Monday, June 30, 2003
At some time have you ever had an altercation with a friend because you wanted things your way and you refused to listen to others’ ideas? If this has happened, now is the time to reflect in the attitude that you have and to take this bad attitude to the Lord.
Some people are very independent when it comes to doing things. But be careful because that independence could really be pride. Besides you could possibly be hurting others’ feelings by not taking their advice or help into consideration. And you can cause them to distance themselves from you without realizing the reason why.
Identify aspects of your life in which you are very independent from God and from others. Ask God to help you submit to His will and to the advice and help of other believers.
-Erika Cervantes
-John 15:12-13 NIV
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Sunday, June 29, 2003
If you would substitute the word “love” for the verb “to care for”, you would realize that when you care for a friend, it is because you love your friend. The word “love” is demonstrated by action. It is like when God cared so much for the world that He sent His Son to die on the cross. Taking care of someone doesn’t consist of our taking care of God, but that He took care of us by sending His Son to die.
When you care for your friends, you deepen the friendship and give it meaning.
We demonstrate our love for God even more when we help others. This love in action is what helps others see Christ in us.
No friendship is complete without genuine demonstrations of practical love. Think for a moment about the people you love and show them your love by your actions.
-Erika Cervantes
-1 John 4:9-10 NIV
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Saturday, June 28, 2003
Many times misunderstandings can cause conflicts among friends. The way to avoid this is to talk and to be a good hearer. The part of being a good hearer is absolutely necessary in cultivating a good relationship.
In order to listen in an efficient manner, you have to concentrate in what you are being told and not in what you want to say. In the case of a misunderstanding, it is important to repeat to the person speaking what you think he/she said in order to be sure there are no misunderstandings. If you made wrong conclusions, be sure to quickly ask for forgiveness.
Good hearers don’t only listen with their ears, but with their eyes and their hearts. They listen to what the other person doesn’t say. They confirm, they encourage and when it is necessary, they speak the truth in love.
Have you had a misunderstanding lately with someone? Ask God for help in listening to your friends and in growing in understanding.
-Erika Cervantes
-James 1:19 NIV
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
Friday, June 27, 2003
In the book of Ruth we see that she can be an example for us because of the love and friendship she feels for her mother-in-law Naomi. The love that she had for her caused her to leave everything. She left family and friends, telling Naomi that she would never leave her alone and that only death would separate them.
Ruth demonstrates the same love that Jesus showed us when He gave His life for us (his friends). And He commands us to do the same thing to others.
How would your friends describe your commitment and loyalty to them?
-Erika Cervantes
-John 15:13 NIV
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Thursday, June 26, 2003
If you are looking for a relationship with someone, I have news for you. You already found one.
Yes, God designed us so that we would have an abundant life through a personal relationship with Him, loving Him, listening to His voice, serving Him and walking in His paths. If we separate ourselves from God our Father, we can still walk, laugh, eat, sleep and work, but in the innermost part of our being we are dead.
Have a deep friendly relationship with God in which He is truly your friend. Then you will be able to be a true friend in the relationships you have.
-Erika Cervantes
-Deuteronomy 13:14 NIV
then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you,
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
A few days ago I received an e-mail from a friend and one part of the message really got my attention. She was telling me that she had been helping clean out a house, and that she couldn’t believe how dirty the house was. They took out about 20 big bags of garbage and not only did they find lots of garbage, but there were cockroaches everywhere. But something that hit me was that there were people living in these conditions. My friend couldn’t believe that anyone could live in such a dirty house.
I was thinking that when we accept Christ in our hearts, He sees us very dirty inside. He doesn’t mind how dirty and smelly we are. He will carry us and He cleans us.
So if you feel that you are dirty inside, ask the Lord to clean you and He will do it.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 51:7 NIV
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Have you ever felt frustrated because you don’t know what God’s purpose for your life is and you feel that you don’t even know which direction you are going in? A few days ago I was talking to a young man who told me that he had no idea what he would do with his life and that He didn’t know what God had in mind for him. He said that he just lived day to day, never knowing what would come the next day.
The reason this young man thought this way was that he had no motivation in his life. He just let things run with no direction or goal.
If you feel like this young man, change your way of thinking. You are a capable person, and God has a plan for your life—a plan He will bring about in your life. You need to ask God what it is that He wants you to do. If you don’t get an answer right away, wait until God speaks to you. In the meantime, keep preparing yourself by being a good student, a good professional, a good employee, a good son or daughter, etc.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD , endures forever-
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Monday, June 23, 2003
When you learn spend time with God in the way that He wants you to spend time with Him, the level of your gratefulness will be directly related to you level of spirituality. You will learn to be thankful to God for everything around you, even for the difficult times you are going through. You will learn to be thankful in all things.
-Erika Cervantes
-1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Have you ever heard a person talk about looking for the bank that pays the best interest when he/she is looking to open a bank account? I think you have because everyone who has money in the bank wants to get as much interest as possible.
If you want a life that pays great interest, you don’t have to go looking around at various banks. You just need to go to the only bank that there is and that bank is God. If you take time for Him, you will find that it is the best investment you can make for good spiritual health.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 84:1-2 NIV
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD ;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Saturday, June 21, 2003
When a friend stays overnight at your house, you can spend the entire night talking with him/her. I would imagine that if a brother or sister interrupts you, you get upset because you don’t want this special time interrupted. You enjoy this time so much that you don’t want the night to end because you know your friend will have to go home.
Now I have a question for you. Is it the same way with God? Think about it for a moment, and answer the question to yourself. If the answer is “yes”, congratulations. Keep enjoying your special times with God. If the answer in “no”, what are you waiting for? Don’t lose these lovely moments of being with God. He is waiting for you to spend time with Him.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 84:10 NIV
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Friday, June 20, 2003
Have you longed to feel the love of God, but you don’t feel it and it is something you desire? The only thing that you have to do is to spend time alone with God. This is one of the greatest founts of pleasure you will ever find.
God wants to spend time with you. He is madly in love with you and He longs to have you express your love to Him during your quiet times of prayer. Look for different ways of spending time with God, so that it doesn’t become monotonous. You can write Him a letter, write a poem, paint something for Him, or do a special dance to show Him your love. Use your creativity in your time with God.
-Erika Cervantes
-Proverbs 8:30 NIV
Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
Thursday, June 19, 2003
I remember the day when my grandmother’s washing machine broke down. My father started taking it apart, and what a surprise! He couldn’t find what was wrong. Maybe it would be better to say that he didn’t know how to find the problem. That fact made him very frustrated. So, he went to buy a manual in order to try to fix it. With the manual in hand, it was very easy to find the problem and when it was fixed, I could see the satisfaction in my father’s face.
The same thing can happen to you. I’m not talking about not being able to fix an appliance. I’m talking about not being able to fix your life. But this isn’t so difficult if you have a time for prayer and Bible Study. Then you can learn what the “manual” says and apply it to your life. I assure you that your life will go much better when you are connected to God.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalms 119:133-135 NIV
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your decrees.
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
One of the most difficult things to do is to concentrate during prayer time. Many times, thoughts start coming that distract you from your time with God. For example, you think about the assignment that you have to do, or things that you need to do at your job, or things that you need to do at home. And you might be thinking about your favorite TV program that you don’t want to miss. By the time you realize what is happening, a lot of time has passed and you think you will take time later to be with God, but that moment never comes.
Thoughts tend to rob you of your time with God. It is necessary to ask God to take away all thoughts that would distract you during your time with Him. Try it-you will see excellent results.
-Erika Cervantes
-2 Corinthians 10:15 NIV
Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
If we want to include God in our daily life, we have to make time to spend quality time with Him. Imagine what the friendship with your best friend would be like if it only consisted of “hello” and “good-bye” and you never took the time to spend more than five minutes together. It would be a little strange, right? But I know that that isn’t the case with your best friend. But it does happen many times in our relationship with God.
At one time, my prayers were somewhat like a fax. When I was running late to get other things done, I would just quickly ask for a few things and say AMEN. The rest of the day I would be really busy and when evening arrived, I had intentions of reading the Bible, but one of two things happened. Either I would fall asleep because I was so tired from the day’s activities or I would read the Bible really quickly, just so I could say that I had read it, and then would fall asleep.
One day I realized the importance of having a time just to spend with God. It isn’t a time of just asking and then asking for more. It also means spending quiet time, listening to Him. Many times we leave Him with His mouth open, ready to tell us something, and we decide it’s time to end.
If you are struggling in spending time alone with God, ask Him to give you the discipline to have a daily time alone with Him.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 5:3 NIV
In the morning, O LORD , you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Monday, June 16, 2003
Where do you go when you want to be alone with God? You need to have a private place where you can be alone with God. This is a place where no one interrupts you, so all your attention is placed on God. In these times when you are alone with God, you can tell Him everything that is happening. You can ask for His advice and He will hear you.
Jesus, being the Son of God, looked for a place where He could be alone with the Father. He knew that He needed to seek His Father’s advice and direction.
If you already have such a place, keep it up. Keep seeking God so that you can get to know Him better. If you don’t have such a place yet, think about a place where you can go and be quiet before God.
I can give you some ideas. You might go to your room and close the door. Maybe it’s someplace outside. Perhaps you know of a park where there aren’t many people around. It could be at the lakeside, etc.
-Erika Cervantes
-Exodus 33:7-10 NIV
Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.
Sunday, June 15, 2003
I remember when I was a little girl and my father would get home from work. I ran to meet him and raised my arms so he would pick me up. That way I could hug and kiss him. After a little bit, I would get down and take his hand. I followed him to the couch where he would sit and wouldn’t leave him. I desired to be with him for a long while.
As time passed, I realized that I wasn’t the only one who met my father in that way. Even now I see children doing the same thing that I used to do.
As I was thinking about this, I asked myself why we don’t meet our Heavenly Father in the same way. Why don’t we run to find Him, to hug Him and tell Him how much we love Him. Why don’t we want to spend time just sitting with Him, possibly talking with Him or just being quiet, enjoying His presence.
What is keeping you from running to meet God? Enjoy every moment that you can spend with God. He is waiting for you.
-Erika Cervantes
-Isaiah 63:16
But you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us
or Israel acknowledge us;
you, O LORD , are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Do you know what God is asking of us?
All of the Bible is based on two commandments: love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. God wants us to love Him in the same way that He loves us. He also says that we will be known as His followers by our love for each other.
Love is more than a feeling and a decision. It is knowing how to value someone. When a relationship is important for you, you don’t want to lose it. You protect it and cultivate it.
That is what God wants us to do. He wants us to love Him and to cultivate that friendship. But it isn’t only the friendship with Him that we need to cultivate. We also need to cultivate friendship with those that surround us.
-Erika Cervantes
-Matthew 22:37-40 NIV
Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments
Friday, June 13, 2003
It is easy to praise God when everything is going really well, but what happens when troubles come? Do you continue with the same joy that you had before? The answer, whether yes or no, is something you need to answer.
Worship is not only singing happy songs when we feel happy. Worship is something to be done at all times, even in the hard times. You have to decide to trust in God and proclaim that His character is perfect, even though you may not understand everything and your heart is breaking. The real victory comes when you keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the circumstances around you. So, rejoice in the Lord and wait for the victory.
-Erika Cervantes
-Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD ,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Thursday, June 12, 2003
I still remember the first time I traveled by airplane. When I sat down and fastened my seatbelt, I was a little nervous, but I put my trust in the pilots of the plane. I was sure they could take me safely to my destination. Everything went well until suddenly the plane started shaking. Of course I didn’t know what was happening and was frightened. Then the flight attendant said that we had hit an air pocket and that the pilot had everything under control. Then I could relax.
This small story proves that we trust people all the time, even people we don’t know. If we can trust other people, how much more should we trust God. God wants us to stop worrying about the future and rest in Him. All you need to do is to believe His word that He wants only the best for you. It is a promise He has given you. Take it and don’t forget it.
-Erika Cervantes
-Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Perhaps at this time you find yourself doing something that you don’t like doing. You do it because your parents want you to do it or because it is a requirement for school or work. Some examples could be studying a foreign language, learning to play an instrument, studying a subject you don’t like, etc.
Keep in mind that you don’t know yet God’s will for your life. Doing these things you don’t really like could be part of God’s preparation in your life. So quit complaining and get to the task. Remember that you should do everything to please God and not man.
-Erika Cervantes
-Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
When we make plans for our life, but we make them on our own, we do so with limited knowledge. On many occasions, the circumstances that surround us cause us to make decisions before we should and this can cause problems in the future. On the other hand, when we allow God to lay out the plans for our lives, He has all the necessary knowledge and He is careful to give us whatever is best for us. He lays out plans for our lives with great love and He knows better than anyone what we need.
If you have a decision that you need to make—no matter how big or small—pray to God and ask Him to guide you to the best decision. Never forget that He is your father and wants only the best for you.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 146:5
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Monday, June 9, 2003
What is your focus on today?
If you are going through some difficult times y you feel you are drowning, don’t worry. If you keep your eyes on God, He will see you through. Put your fears and worries aside and believe that God has the control of your life in His hands. God wants your faith to grow, so don’t doubt the power that He has. So, stretch your faith and wait for God to answer.
-Erika Cervantes
-Matthew 14:28-31 NIV
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Sunday, June 8, 2003
Yesterday afternoon I visited a house and was able to see a tiny kitten. In spite of the fact that I don’t like cats and I don’t want to hold them, it was different with this one. He was so cute that I ended up touching him. Later I asked my friend if the kitten was in any danger from Goldie (the dog) and the other cats. She told me that the mother would take care of it and that typically, mother cats move their kittens once the hiding place is found. I was assured that the mother cat would protect her baby.
If this is the case with a cat and her kittens, can you imagine how God takes care of His children? You only have to ask Him to take care of you and keep you from harm. It is His pleasure to take care of you.
-Erika Cervantes
-Proverbs 2:8
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Saturday, June 7, 2003
When you are thirsty, the first thing you do is to go to a place where you can find something to take away your thirst. I am sure that when you are looking for a place to quench your thirst, you don’t go to a hardware store or to a shoe store, because you know that you won’t find what you are looking for in either of those places.
It is the same with God. When you are thirsty in your soul, go directly to the fountain and ask that He take away that thirst. Don’t go to the wrong place. With this living water that He offers you, you will never again be thirsty.
-Erika Cervantes
-John 7:37-38 NIV
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
Friday, June 6, 2003
Yesterday afternoon I went for a walk in Pine City, MN. I could see a shower of fluff. This fluff come from dandelions. They tell me around here that no one likes dandelions because they sprout up everywhere and that it is hard to get rid of them. For those who don’t know what dandelions look like, let me describe them to you. They have a small yellow flower, which later turns to white fluff. This fluff is scattered by the wind and you can see it everywhere. Of course, the fluff carries the seeds which bring more dandelions.
After watching the dandelion fluff for a few minutes, I realized that God would like us to be like this little flower. In spite of its small size, it has lots of seeds and spreads the seeds all over the place. In time, these seeds grow. That is how you need to be. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your size is, you can sow the seed of salvation everywhere you go (school, work, neighborhood, home) and you will see the fruit that comes from the seed you have sown.
Are you willing to be like this little flower? Don’t let your size stop you. And even if you feel like you are repeatedly being cut down, don’t stop spreading the seed.
-Erika Cervantes
-Psalm 1:3 NIV
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Thursday, June 5, 2003
Last night I was thinking in how, as children, we tend to be very ungrateful with our parents. Yes, what you are reading is correct. Tell me, when was the last time that you thanked your father for all his work so that you can have something to eat. Or when was the last time you thanked your mother for always having a plate of food ready for you to eat. Take a few minutes and look at all you have around you. Do you now realize that you have a lot to thank your parents for? Even in these seemingly small things, it is important to be thankful. But as children, we tend to think that there is no reason to thank them because we see it as an obligation they have toward us.
But, they don’t see it as an obligation. They do all that they do because they love you and they want to give you the best they can.
Now, let’s take this another step. How thankful are you to God for all He has given you? Possibly you think that He has an obligation to you, too. But He also gives you things freely because of His love for you. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to die for you so that you can enjoy all you now have.
Start practicing the art of gratefulness—first with God and then with those around you.
-Erika Cervantes
-1 John 4:8-10 NIV
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Wednesday, June 4, 2003
If you are truly seeking, you will find.
If you are seeking to be loved by someone, you have the solution within reach. God can give you that love that you have been looking for in other people or other things. Seeking God is the key to knowing Him and when you know Him, you won’t be deceived. You will find in God who is full of love, who has a perfect character and who delights in being good and faithful to you.
Knowing Him is loving Him and feeding on His Word—the Bible.
Knowing Him is seeking His friendship.
Knowing Him is praising Him.
What are you doing to get to know God? Seek Him as you would seek out your best friend.
-Erika Cervantes
-Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
Tuesday, June 3, 2003
At times, I have heard young people say why does God does do this to me? They blame him for everything that happens to them. This tends to happen when they don’t recognize God’s character. He will never act unjustly. He is incomparably pure and everything He does is perfect, without stain or imperfections. The majority of the things for which we blame God are the results of decisions we have made.
The accusations against God don’t have any basis. God always does what is good, right, loving and that will help us. The faithfulness of God is incomparable and He is always faithful.
-Erika Cervantes
-Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.
Monday, June 2, 2003
God forgives me freely!
God set this whole forgiveness thing up based on His love for us, not on our love for Him. He paid all the price so that we could enjoy forgiveness and fellowship with Him. We can’t work hard enought to earn any of it, we can only receive it by His grace and love.
If I could earn my salvation then Christ would have died for no reason. Thank God that He didn’t count on my perfection for salvation because I wouldn’t have a chance.
-John Roe
-Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved, through faith. It is not your own doing, but God’s gift. There is nothing to boast of, since it is not the result of your own efforts.”
Sunday, June 1, 2003
God forgives me repeatedly!
I will have to admit that I am human. Don’t think that I am making excuses, I am just explaining to you that I am human. As a human I am quite capable of doing things that are wrong and I am capable of doing them quite wrong.
As a human, in need of forgiveness, I can take heart in the fact that God forgives me every time I come back to HIm.
Awesome concept!
Awesome God!
-John Roe
-Nehemiah 9:7 (LB)
“You are a God of forgiveness, always ready to pardon, gracioius and merciful… full of love.”
