The journey that reveals heaven to us

Heaven is for real. Do you know the way there?

I want to start by sharing something personal of my life with you. For so many years I was lost. I was angry and filled with hate. Thinking back on it, I’m not sure if I could pinpoint what made me so angry and filled with hate, however, I felt utterly lost. I was like a man without a compass going around in circles. I treated others terribly. Lied constantly. Envied many. Was filled with jealousy. My time went to frivolous things. My mind thought of very little good. My money went to perishable things; things that wouldn’t last. My body was something for misuse. I cheated, I stole, I did many things I grew to not be proud of and I kept them a secret for as long as I could.

Four months after my 29th birthday (I’m now 34), I found myself absolutely consumed by all those terrible things. I was now separated from my then wife and divorce was imminent. I hit the boiling point. I couldn’t take all the stuff I mentioned above anymore. It was too much. It was too heavy to carry. It became too burdensome. However, I didn’t know what to do but cry and cry and cry and feel sorry for myself, be angry with myself; be disgusted with myself! Just when I felt like I was going to explode, I lifted my body up from my bed and in the darkest darkness of my room I stood sitting on the edge of my bed, slumped over in defeat and hopelessness and cried out to God, and said these exact words, “God, please help me. I can’t do this anymore.” What happened next forever changed my life— Jesus came and saved me from all that pain. I want you to know that Jesus is absolutely willing to take your baggage, your mess, your pain and give you His love, His peace, His joy, His promise. That is what He did on the Cross; that is what He did when He rose from the grave and was not found in that tomb (Matthew 28:1-10). As my sister puts it so wonderfully, “Jesus who rose from the tomb has the power to raise you from any tomb of trial. ” —Heather “FUNK” Palacios

The fact of the manner was, I was a sinner in need of saving and you too, are a sinner in need of saving. And only Jesus can and will save all those who call on His name (Hebrews 10:13).

What would unfold along the way has been listed below, yet I further share my heart with you. With that being said, I now invite you into my HEART...

It’s Just One Day

Beloved, I have been told and I have heard this said many times “it’s just one day” concerning my attendance at my church Potential Church and how I should not go, in order to partake in some other extracurricular activity.

Missing service to me and the message that Troy Gramling or any other pastor may deliver is something I rarely do. The very message may well be the answer to a prayer I was waiting for, or the encouragement I needed, a challenge and opportunity to know the heart of God more or even a tool to utilize to help share my faith with someone else. It is limitless what someone can experience at a bible based church and the message that is being shared with others on that day.

Today the Holy Spirit turned the phrases among around and said, “What if just for one day you didn’t do the harmful things you normally do?”

Here’s a list of things He showed me:

1. Choose this time around to attend church service.

2. Choose not to take another drink.

3. Choose not to raise your hand at that person.

4. Choose not to hangout with that crowd.

5. Choose to be honest with them.

6. Choose to not smoke _________ (you fill in that blank).

7. Choose not to look at that website, channel or movie or enter that place.

8. Choose to eat healthy.

9. Choose to get some rest.

10. Choose not to think so much and trust more.

11. Choose to take that next step.

12. Choose to ask for forgiveness finally.

13. Choose to get the help you desperately need.

14. Choose to open that bible that has sat on your shelf collecting dust.

15. Choose not to be afraid.

16. Choose to pray for real and not for pretend.

17. Choose to love and not hate.

18. Choose to walk away from that harmful and uncommitted relationship. 

19. Choose to encourage someone today and not to be all about yourself.

20. Choose not to use curse words to express yourself.

21. Choose to listen more and talk less.

22. Choose to hug them back or accept a hug from them.

23. Choose to finally visit them... It’s been way too long.

24. Choose not to get even.

25. Choose to be generous with your time, talents and treasure.

26. Choose Me!

If we would all choose not to do the harmful things we all do even for one day, what would this world be like and what amazing things could start to take place in our lives? So, as I am encouraged and challenged by some of these, I encourage you also, CHOOSE not to do that harmful thing... “It’s just one day.”

As always... YOU ARE LOVED.

Leverage Everything: This is everything... All that you have been created to be

“As a Christ follower, what we do in this life has no greater bearing than to be used for the sake of Christ, and that is to rescue people.” — F. Lugo

The above was inspired by a recent teaching by Pastor Troy Gramling of Potential Church titled “Unexpected Rescue." The previous sentence is an actual link to the message (click on it and enjoy). With that being said, I now invite you into my HEART...

7 Key Points Received at Night of Hope

KEY POINTS from Night of Hope

Night of Hope Miami 2013

My beloved and I ready to serve at
Night of Hope Miami 2013

Beloved, this was written April 21, 2013 at 1:19am. These 7 key points I learned and was refreshed by from Joel and Victoria’s: America’s Night of Hope in South Florida at Marlins Park on April 20, 2013. I was most blessed to serve as an usher at Night of Hope on behalf of Potential Church and receive a free ticket to enjoy and receive the blessing of witnessing many people give their lives to Christ. Amen. So, I wanted to pass on this blessing to you as well, as I know you will not only gain insight into the heart of God, but you will be refreshed by them as well. With that being said, I now invite you into my HEART...

Consistency: It’s Testimony Time

Beloved, consistency is a word I didn’t understand for much of my adolescent life. Maybe it was because I was continually failing at different things and not consistently accomplishing something worthwhile. With that being said, I now invite you into my HEART...

“BAPTISM”: What does it mean to you?!

Thought about getting baptized? Want to get baptized? Click here to register.

Beloved, as I wrote this post to inspire and encourage you to go forward with that decision of getting baptized, and what baptism means to me, I had to include this post from a sister of mine. I call her FUNK, but she’s known as Heather Palacios. Check out what this FUNKy chick wrote on Baptism... CLICK HERE and drive on by to HER page.


Baptism means doing the UNthinkABLE.

Hard Choices

Advice for Life: “Don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.” – Ps. Troy Gramling of Potential Church

My Book Report (Chapter 4): Every Day A Friday

Chapter Four

"Bloom Where You Are Planted." These words certainly spark curiosity. I always find it absolutely amazing where God will lead an individual who is looking to be lead. Therefore, allow me to lead you to the meaning of the word bloom.

Bloom: to flourish; to glow; to produce; to thrive; to prosper; to achieve- To invest oneself. 


As I read through chapter four of Joel Osteen's "Every Day A Friday" I was challenged tremendously. Joel goes on to write in this chapter about being the best you can be where you are at in life despite situations, circumstances, peoples attitudes or even our ability to not see the best in ourselves or others for that matter.

You may be thinking, why the metaphor of plant growth? Joel starts this chapter with a personal experience of his own. He was walking through a forest and came to a large opening that was full of  'dead, dried-up, brown, ugly weeds.' As he continued walking about a hundred yards in he saw a beautiful flower. Joel goes on to describe, "It was so bright, so colorful, so refreshing. It had bloomed right there in the middle of the acres and acres of old, ugly, dried-up weeds. And I thought. Really, that's what God wants us to do. Just bloom where we're planted."


If you are anything like me, you may tend to beat yourself up when you can't do better than you are doing. You want to be more. You want to know more. In essence you want to be someone you aren't at the current moment. But that is the good news. Just as I may not be certain things yet! Doesn't mean I wont be these things in the future. That goes for you too! Therefore, as I am comforted yet inspired to do better, I will use these blessings that God places in my life, in my path, such as this book by Joel Osteen that I am reading, to do my best where I am at, and constantly look to God to strengthen me to reach and achieve better and never settle for where I am at.

As I have mentioned to many people, I certainly look to challenge myself to reach higher than my present lot in life, as my lot is what God has made for me and that is Victory. Amen.


My Takeaway:

It's always a tough thing to break barriers in your life especially when you lacked the upbringing of victory. But as my pastor, Pastor Troy Gramling has shared and is successfully modeling, 'Although it wasn't modeled for you doesn't mean YOU can't model it' I am encouraged to lead out by example despite the model not being there for me.

I'm looking to God to do just that. The strength to break barriers; to be the best I can be where I am at yet never settling to stay where I am at, and to bloom even when I'm surrounded by weeds. Amen.

Beloved, I leave you with these words of encouragement and truth, ‘Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”’ (Matthew 19:26 NIV)


As Always...YOU ARE LOVED

My Book Report (Chapter 2): Every Day A Friday

Chapter Two

Hello there. How are you doing today?

Quite a different introduction to this post wouldn't you agree? I want you to know that although I write this blog, it's not about me. It's about you and what the words God pours into my heart to share with you, can do for you. With that being said, I truly do hope your day is going well and if it hasn't been good so far, in this quiet time as you read these words, I hope and pray they will make your outlook on your day much better. 

Moments ago I finished reading the second chapter of Joel Osteen's "Every Day A Friday" and it is an amazing read. Joel's simple approach to all things bring quite a powerful impact into a person's life. Chapter two is titled "Don't Give Away Your Power." As I read through this chapter so much came to mind. I laughed, reflected a lot, and was lead to pray for the team I am a part of at Potential Church- The Connect Ministry. What is that prayer you may be asking yourself (or at least I hope you're asking yourself that question.) Here's the prayer: God, I ask that You give us the strength to go through the challenges we might face with a good attitude this Easter with all the services we will be a part of. In Jesus name. Amen

That prayer was triggered by these words I read in Chapter 2. "I think it's interesting that the apostle Paul never prayed for people to be delivered from their problems. He prayed that God would give them the strength to go through challenges with a good attitude." 

As I read what giving your power away meant. It made sense but I knew I had done just that almost all my life. Giving your power away, in short, is losing your cool in any situation or circumstance and going down to the level of the other person who you simply think is being an idiot because they're messing with you.  

Giving away your power seems melodramatic, right? It's like, come on seriously! You're telling me because I get mad or frustrated or want to give the finger to someone who cuts me off I've given them my power? The answer to that would be, Yes! Seems silly but truly you are giving your power away. How so? The moment you lose your cool and are no longer calm headed, the power you had is gone and now that person, that situation, that circumstance has your power. Joel mentions a great verse in scripture that speaks to such a thing. These are Jesus' words, “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ ⁶ If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you.” (Luke 10:5-6).

The verse above is an absolute principle to live by. It just so happens to also be a very blessing to anyone who is in Christ (Click HERE to see that blessing). But just as it's a principle and a blessing to believers in Jesus everywhere, you and I have to learn to live it, believe it and exercise it all the time. That's the hard part about keeping your power. You need to first believe you have it in the first place. I'm learning and trusting this more and more. Just as it takes time to break bad habits, it also takes time to embrace and enforce good habits. 

My Takeaway:

Keeping my peace no matter what happens is real power. Developing my character takes work but a consistent and committed heart will have me keeping my peace; my cool every where I go, and walking in joy all the days of my life.

Beloved, I do pray that we will all be blessed by asking God to give us strength to go through our daily challenges with a good attitude. Sadly, something I have painfully learned and am still learning, in order for change to occur it needs to start with me. To that, I say. Amen.

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.