Friday, April 30, 2004
Today I would like to talk a little bit about the Bible
In the Word of God we had food that helps us grow and become strong spiritually. Did you know that there is no other book that offers man the comfort, wisdom and deep spiritual teachings that the Bible gives us?
I can assure you that for many of us it is not easy to read it. As soon as we start reading it, we feel tired, sleepy or even bored. But this happens because the enemy of our souls (Satan) wants to keep us tied. But for every challenge it is necessary to defeat the obstacles that come to us.
Let us study the Word every day, many times a day because we find in it the voice of God, who reveals Himself to us in each one of its’ pages.
Remember that in the Word we find love, heath, and eternal life for the soul.
-Betty Hernández
-John 5:39
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
-2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
A successful Christian life begins with the knowledge of God. In the book of Exodus, God demonstrates part of His nature and character. To truly know God should affect our conduct.
Follow God who is the Lord you sanctifies you. His life in you makes your righteousness possible.
-Nohemí Meléndez
-Leviticus 11:44
I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Did you know that for a leader and really for all Christians the most important goal in life is to mature spiritually. And to accomplish that we need to grow daily in the depth of our Christian life and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ .
The first step is when you accept Jesus as your personal Savior. The second step is growth. As a disciple of Jesus Christ you have a family you can relate to. To be included in the family of God is the highest honor and privilege you will ever have.
Remember when you feel insecure or that you are not important or that no one loves you, to whom you belong.
-Betty Hernández
-1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Many times we put our trust in someone. Let’s think about a young person in the Bible named Joseph. He trusted others too much. And he also thought pretty highly of himself, something that was encouraged because he knew he was Jacob’s favorite son. Having had dreams of what God had in mind for his life was something his brothers didn’t like and they conspired against him. Because of the assurance he had, molded and formed by suffering and combined with a personal knowledge of God, he survived and prospered when many others would have given up. Adding wisdom to his confidence, he won the hearts of those who met him.
Perhaps you can identify with one of these situations that Joseph experienced. Some of these are betrayal, being kicked out of the family, sexual temptation, being punished for doing right, etc.
I invite you to read this story and observe carefully how Joseph reacted in each situation.
Remember that with God’s help, every situation can be used for good even when others want to hurt us.
-Nohemí Meléndez
-Genesis 41:28
“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Being a child of God has many advantages. One of them is that He will never leave you or abandon you even when you feel so alone and sad that you feel He is a million miles away. He is faithful with us and I want to assure you that He will never leave you.
God know what you are going through and He understands. But at times this feeling of separation is necessary to test this friendship because when everything is going good, it is easy to worship God, but when hard times and problems come, can we worship when things are falling apart?
That is when we can show God that no matter the problem, need, affliction, or pain, we will worship Him.
Remember that it doesn’t matter how you feel: God is saying to you “I love you and I will never leave or forsake you”.
-Betty Hernández
-Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Sunday, April 25, 2004
One of the major emphasis of the teachings of Jesus was how to build and maintain right relationships with God and with humanity. The Lord sees these relationships, not as something unimportant or superficial, but as the basis of what life is made. To know God is our first priority, but achieving this should not replace or minimize our interpersonal relationships with others. On the contrary, our personal interaction with God should bring out the character qualities that build up and support our relationships with those around us.
Understand that God forgives our sins just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Make forgiving others part of your daily prayers as an exercise of discipline.
-Nohemí Meléndez
-Matthew 6:14
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
-Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
We should be careful to never forget the price of forgiveness. This is a step in facing sin. Sin is a serious thing and we need to treat it as such. Sin sent the Only Son of God to the cross. We must not forget that among the requirements for the forgiveness that God offers are repentance, confession and abandoning the sin.
Take sin seriously and face it. Keep up your repentance. Take steps to let the harms caused by sin heal. Don’t stain the forgiveness you have received by returning to sin.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Ezra 10:1-17
While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites-men, women and children-gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”
So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. Now make confession to the LORD , the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”
The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: “You are right! We must do as you say. But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.” Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.
So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.
Friday, April 23, 2004
One way to live in holiness is to live separated from the world and consecrated to God.
Never lose sight of the fact that the world is out to defeat the purposes of God. Look for the counsel of God and reject the counsel of the unbeliever.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Ezra 4:4-5
Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
The Lord could have given His servant Samuel more precise instructions. He could have said to him, “When you arrive, ask for David, the youngest son. He is the person I have chosen to be king. Anoint him and bless him in My name” But the Lord, faithful in His ways, only told the prophet enough information to get him moving to where God wanted him to go.
When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem, he began looking for the new king. God did not intervene. Samuel began using his own list of criteria, and thought he had found the new king when he saw the oldest son. At that moment God spoke and finished the instructions, revealing the principle that needed to guide the process of selection: God doesn’t see as man sees, because man looks at what is seen on the outside, but God looks at the heart.
What happened to Samuel can happen to us too. Let’s not wait for God to give us exact instructions to decide what to do. We need to let Him guide us according to His heart.
(We find the answer through prayer and fasting.)
-Betty Hernández
-1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Lord Jesus, how I bless You for Your word, for each trial that comes my way, no matter where it comes from or how it comes, knowing that I will be victorious far beyond human reasoning could allow due to your compassion. I praise You because I can be capable, powerful and patient to overcome any temptation that comes my way.
God, due to Your faithfulness to me, I will be faithful to You. I will rely on Your word to keep me from falling on the slippery path or tripping on the weeds that are along this narrow path.
Remember that God is faithful to us and we need to be faithful to Him too.
-Betty Hernández
-1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
How well do you understand God?
Let me tell you what I understand. For me, God is creator and He has always existed. We are his creation.
God created everything that exists and He created all so that each species can reproduce.
If you are in agreement with me, understand that as His creation, we are responsible to our Creator for all we do.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
“I find no pleasure in them”-
Monday, April 19, 2004
I have shared the good experiences that we had on our trip. Now let me tell you about what happened on the trip. The trip takes about 4 hours from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico to get to the town and we made it 8 on the way and 10 on the way back. That was because several of the vehicles that went had trouble, like 5 tires blew. There was nothing left of the tires.
The trials that come with our faith bring the fruit of patience which is a sign of a true believer. Only under the pressure of trials can the believer test the depth of his or her faith in God. The firm heart doesn’t waver, but rejoices in the knowledge of the goodness of God.
Realize that when your faith is put to the test, it will produce patience.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-James 1:3
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
A leader with faith does not look to be recognized because he or she knows that God is so great and powerful that He sees all and rewards the leader. A leader recognizes that God will not forget his or her actions of love and righteousness.
A leader knows that God will publicly reward him or her at the right moment.
Don’t give up, but trust in the Lord.
-Betty Hernández
-Esther 6:1-11
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him. His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ ”
“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robbed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Let’s continue with a past thought. The first day that we arrived at the ranchito all the men started painting the church, each one helping the other. It really was a beautiful sight to see those men and youth painting the letters, and others putting in the ceiling and finally several youth cleaned the church and it was beautiful. The name of the church is Emmanuel, which means God With Us.
I was one of the youth painting the letters on the church. The Bible says that together we form one body and just like the body has several members, they all make up one body.
In the same way, many people work together, respecting each other as members of the body of Christ.
If you have worked in your church helping in any way, keep doing it. God will reward you and if you have never done it I encourage you to start and you will feel like you have done something you needed to do.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
Friday, April 16, 2004
Today I want to tell you about Esther—a woman who feared God and who interceded for her people. She was a humble person. She was an orphan, but was given a great wisdom from God.
The wise person knows what he or she needs to do at all times (that was Esther). She took advantage of God’s favor on her life which is something we can do to satisfy personal ambition, but we can also use it to bring about God’s purposes. Realice that God raises up certain people to key positions to bring about His purposes.
Perhaps you have a leadership position and I would like to tell you to always use any favorable position to seek the well-being of the people of God. Don’t use these situations for personal benefit.
Rise up with God’s help and His strength and you will be proclaimed a great leader.
-Betty Hernández
-Esther 2:17
Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
In the Bible there is a key word mentioned in the Gospel of John. I don’t know if you know what it is. It is the word “to believe”.
There are three key points that indicate how faith is shown.
1. Faith frees our understanding of the Scriptures and opens the door for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
2. Faith, like love, is shown through obedience.
3. Faith draws us close to God so that we can receive from Him the things we need.
Understand that the glory of God is revealed in those who believe.
-Nohemí Meléndez
-Hebrews 11:1-6
Es, pues, la fe la certeza de lo que se espera, la convicción de lo que no se ve. Porque por ella alcanzaron buen testimonio los antiguos. Por la fe entendemos haber sido constituido el universo por la palabra de Dios, de modo que lo que se ve fue hecho de lo que no se veía.
Por la fe Abel ofreció a Dios más excelente sacrificio que Caín, por lo cual alcanzó testimonio de que era justo, dando Dios testimonio de sus ofrendas; y muerto, aún habla por ella. Por la fe Enoc fue traspuesto para no ver muerte, y no fue hallado, porque lo traspuso Dios; y antes que fuese traspuesto, tuvo testimonio de haber agradado a Dios. Pero sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios; porque es necesario que el que se acerca a Dios crea que le hay, y que es galardonador de los que le buscan.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Did you know that the personal conduct of leaders that God chooses and the examples of their ministries causes God to either be received or rejected by the world. So we need to be very careful of each of our words and actions. If the leadership does not desire the law of God, the people of God cannot be instructed and therefore, can never live in peace.
If you are a leader, whether in worship, with youth, with children, or even in cleaning the church, you need to have the perfect security that your life and ministry are in line with God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that the people of God will give the honor and glory to Jesus Christ.
Remember that to choose the blessings of God and to walk in the Christian life and to do good in His eyes so that you will not fall under a curse.
There is no distinction among people in God’s eyes.
-Beatriz Hernández
-Malachi 2:1-9
“And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.
“Because of you I will rebuke your descendants ; I will spread on your faces the offal from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it. And you will know that I have sent you this admonition so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the LORD Almighty. “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.
“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction-because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty. “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
I have two weeks of vacation in school and last week we went out of town. We went to help a woman who is pastoring a ranch area. The blessing was very great. Several youth prepared two skits and they were a great blessing for the church in that little ranch. I am still amazed. I know that life there is not the same as life here in the city. The first day, we started working and I was really thirsty. I didn’t want to use up all the water we had brought with us right away, so I asked the women there for a glass of water. The pastor brought me water, telling me it was rain water. I was quiet and knew I had to drink it. With the first swallow, I realized I really liked it—it tasted like lemonade. My mother said it was because I was willing to serve the Lord.
The devil is not happy with what we did. But let me tell you that if you serve God with your whole heart, there will be abounding joy in your life,
Later I will share more wonderful things that happened on this trip.
God bless you.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Ephesians 6:5-8
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Monday, April 12, 2004
A successful Christian life begins with the full knowledge of the precious Word of God.
In the book of Exodus God reveals to us a part of His nature and character. Truly knowing God should affect our conduct.
Understand that God is, that His name is “I AM THAT I AM. Remember that you should trust in Him always because He is our base. So, rest in your Friend Jesus and let Him support you.
-Beatriz Hernández
-Exodus 3:14-15
God said to Moses, “I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD , the God of your fathers-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob-has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
Sunday, April 11, 2004
The resurrection of Jesus is the basis of the Christian faith.
Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and mine. It is said that Jesus raised from the dead on the third day. He didn’t stay in the tomb. He is at the right hand of the Father. Just as He was resurrected back to life, He wants you to have life with HIM. He also wants you to accept Him as your Lord and Savior.
It is necessary that you accept Him, because the Bible tells us the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
Sin separates you from God. He says in His word that we are all sinners, that there is no one who is righteous.. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.
If you would like to, tell the Lord the following words, no matter where you are. Just do it and you will discover that He will hear you. Pray these words: Lord, I recognize that I have sinned. Forgive me. I need you as my Lord and Savior. Change my life, but first, cleanse my heart from all sin. I ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Remember that if you pray this prayer, God will rejoice.
-Nohemí Meléndez
-1 Corinthians 15:1-20 NIV
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Did you know that the Christian life is made up of two fundamental activities? These are learning and teaching.
In sharing with others what we have received from Christ, we grow spiritually. In that way we show our gratitude to God and at the same time we serve those who listen to us.
To teach is to share, so go and look for someone with whom you can share what Jesus has done for you.
Remember that you should teach in love and with no pride, always being aware that Jesus is the master teacher. Proclaim the Gospel openly.
-Betty Hernández
-Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV
be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
-Romans 1:16 NIV
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Friday, April 9, 2004
Have you ever be anxious waiting for something? Perhaps there is nothing worse than waiting, whether we wait for something good, bad or unknown. One of the ways that at times we face a long wait, or even a short one, is when we decide to help God get His plan going. One woman in the Bible tried to do this and her name was Sarah. She waited 90 years for a baby. When God finally told her that she would have a son, she laughed, not so much due to the faith she had in what God could do, but in doubt of what God could do in her. When she was reprimanded for her laughter, she lied just as she had seen her husband do on certain occasions. Probably she didn’t want to recognize her own feelings.
Now think about this question.
What things in your life seem to be in a holding pattern right now? Can you understand that this might just be God’s plan for you? The Bible has many clear instructions to keep us occupied while we wait for His perfect plan to be realized in our lives.
Remember that God is not limited to the normal way of doing things. He can move the limits and make the impossible happen.
-Nohemí Meléndez
-Heb 11:11 NIV
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Thursday, April 8, 2004
How is your self-esteem?
How is that deep feeling that you have about your worth and that you consider to be your very being? If you think you are ugly, fat, dumb and a failure, YOU ARE WRONG. You need to know that you are important to God and that HE has created you in His image and that He is really concerned about what happens to you.
And when you take the words of Jesus for your life, you will realize that your self image will begin to raise when you remember that God loves you and that He accepts you without condition.
Cheer up. And don’t feel bad about yourself. God is with you
-Betty Hernández
-Eph 4:23-24 NIV
to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Wednesday, March 7, 2004
I have a question for you.
Would you be willing to give your life for Jesus? I asked this question to a young girl in the church and she answered yes. Then I asked her why and she said because He first gave His life for us. Many times as we walk with the Lord, we come across dangers and we don’t want to continue. In the Bible we read about a young man who is a continual example to all Christians. He was the first martyr. His last words prove how much he learned from Jesus in a short while. It didn’t matter to him whether or not the people believed him—he kept going in the faith because he knew that Someone had already given His life for him on the cross. He also knew that that Someone loved him just as He loves you and me now. And that Someone is Jesus of Nazareth who was raised from the dead on the third day.
So I will close with the same question: Are you willing to give your life for Jesus?
Remember that truly knowing God will guide you to practical and compassionate action on behalf of others.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Acts 7:59-60
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Tuesday, March 6, 2004
Almost every day we have to face matters of conscience and we have to choose between what pleases God and what pleases our own selfish interests. The most common example is that students very often are tempted to cheat (copy others’ work).
As Christians we find ourselves in situations that try the conscience. These same situations help us see if we are serious regarding the integrity God wants us to have. All of us know that our decisions will have consequences—either good or bad.
What do you feel is the best way to keep from making a bad decision? It is to trust in God that He will help us when we choose to do what is pleasing in His sight, no matter the outcome. In Daniel 3 we can see a clear example of depending on God, when the three Jewish youths dared to disobey the king’s law and not bow down before the image of gold because they trusted God and they said that even God would not deliver them, they would trust in Him.
-Betty Hernández
-Daniel 3:17-18
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Monday, April 5, 2004
I don’t know if you have ever thought about what the childhood was like for some of the Bible heroes. I kind of think we all have thought about it. It is said that there is very little information about the people mentioned in the Bible.
Samuel is the exception. He was born as the result of the fervent prayer of Hannah for a son. God molded Samuel right from the beginning. He was called to be several different things: judge, priest, prophet, counselor and man of God. And he was called to serve at a crucial time in Israel’s history. God worked through Samuel because he was willing to be what God wanted him to be—His servant. Samuel demonstrated that those whom God finds faithful in the small things will be entrusted with bigger things. He grew up helping the high priest Eli in the tabernacle until God entrusted him with other responsibilities. God could use Samuel because he was genuinely dedicated to Him. Samuel advanced because he was listening to God’s instructions.
Too many times we ask God to take control of our lives but we fail to give up the goals that we have made. We ask God to help us achieve our own goals.
I am going to give you three steps that we need to take to correct this tendency.
- Turn over the control as well as the destiny of our lives.
- Be obedient in what we know He wants of us.
- Listen to the instruction that comes from His Word, God’s road map for life.
Remember that the importance a person achieve is directly related to his or her relationship with God.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-1 Samuel 3:19-20
The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD .
Sunday, April 4, 2004
|This morning I was talking to a young woman (married) who is 19 years old and in the conversation, she said that she had been a Christian, but had abandoned her relationship with Christ for one reason.
What do you think was the motive? The motive was a young man who was not a Christian.
Because of this, I want to tell you something. If you are a Christian who is seriously looking for a spouse, it is best to only date a Christian. If your wonderful significant other is not a Christian, perhaps you will be forced to choose between your love for Christ and your love for that other person.
That would be very difficult and even embarrassing.
-Betty Hernández
-2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Saturday, April 3, 2004
The stories of some people in the Bible are so intertwined that they are almost inseparable. Now, let me tell you about two women who are beautiful examples in the Bible. Naomi and Ruth, two women who were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, perhaps had as many tense moments as tender moments.
They went through extreme grief, they loved each other dearly, and they surrendered completely to the God of Israel. And in spite of their dependence on each other, they had a freedom in their commitment to each other. Naomi was willing to let Ruth return to her family. Ruth was willing to leave her homeland to go to Israel. Naomi, in spite of all that had happened with Ruth and the death of her son, helped in arranging the marriage of Ruth and Boaz, even when this could drastically change her relationship with Ruth. God was in the center of their intimate communication. Ruth came to know the God of Israel through Naomi. The elder woman permitted Ruth to see, hear and feel all the joy and anguish of her relationship with God.
I have a question for you.
How often you you express even disordered thoughts about God to your friends?
Remember the living presence of God in a relationship overcomes differences that could cause division and a lack of harmony.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Ruth 1:16
But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Friday, April 2, 2004
Are you good enough to go to heaven?
I begin with this question because nowadays many people say, “I am not a bad person. I live a decent life. Surely God will allow me in heaven.”
But, unfortunately, those people have forgotten something very important. It isn’t how bad you are, but how good you can be. Are you good enough that God will allow you to enter heaven, a place with no sin, no evil thoughts, no selfishness, no evil, nothing that displeases God? It’s not how many sins you have committed—the question is this: Have you ever sinned? If you have sinned at one time (and we all are guilty), you need a Savior.
-Betty Hernández
-Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
-1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Thursday, April 1, 2004
Talking with a classmate the other day, I asked her what she thought humility was and she said that humility is being simple before God.
According to the dictionary, humility is defined as the total absence of arrogance, deceit and high-thinking. The Bible defines it by steps. Humility is a special spiritual virtue. Humble people don’t run from responsibilities, but they refuse to take credit for the successes, knowing that all good things in this life come from God.
God wants you to practice humility.
If God permits, another day I will give you another step of humility.
God bless you. Keep strong in the faith and never faint.
-Nohemi Meléndez
-Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
