Jesus - In the Father's Heart

Matthew 1:19: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph was both honorable and compassionate. Who else would the Father choose for His Son's training and upbringing? What better choice than a flawed human with a heart of compassion?

Joseph, with no knowledge of the power of the situation, with no knowledge that the Son of God was involved, took the route of best treatment for Mary. He was taking measures to keep her protected in the embarrassment of the situation. He had the heart of the Father to cover and protect. Who else would God chose but one with His own heart?

ACT! What in your life needs silent treatment? Give it to the Father. He will secret it away in forgiveness.

PRAY! Compassionate Father, release me from my past. In Jesus, I find forgiveness and covering. Thank You for being You.

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Jesus, Interrupter

Matthew 1: 18: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus has a certain knack for interrupting the status quo. Our expectations of life can easily be shifted when He enters. Joseph and Mary had an arrangement, an understanding, and an expectation. Their families surely were looking forward to a certain joyous celebration and joining of their lives. Then enters Jesus. Whoops! Where did this baby come from?

ACT! Where has being involved with Jesus challenged and changed your life? Move with the change. Let the Holy Ghost have control.

PRAY! Father, Creator, and Interrupter. You speak and all changes. You desire and my life is at your command. Spirit of Life, move me with the Father's plan. Interrupt where You will.


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My Sanctuary: Searching

My Sanctuary: Searching

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Jesus- the son of David, the son of Abraham

Matthew1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Meeting Jesus means meeting the final, eternal king of life. Jesus is the son of David, the favored king of Israel. David received the promise of a kingdom without end. Jesus is the last king in the line. Jesus is the king that never loses the throne.

Meeting Jesus starts with embracing faith. Faith gives substance to life. Faith brings to reality our dreams. Jesus is the son of Abraham, the father of faith. No more important aspect could begin a journey with Him.

ACT! Get busy turning over a dream to Jesus. Take hold of the faith of Abraham and submit the request to the King of Kings.

PRAY! Holy Father, Jesus gave me the heritage of David and Abraham. Jesus gave me connection to great faith and authority. I submit my dreams to His ability to see it come to pass.

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Jesus, Giver of Life

Matthew 1: 2: Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

Jesus comes from the line of Abraham. Abraham was a giver of life. Abraham turned faith into a lineage of ability and more life. Abraham was an investor in the future. His sights were always set forward.

Meeting Jesus means meeting the future. He is future focused. He intends to begat. He intends to birth new life, new dreams, new ways, and new opportunities for you.

ACT! Take that dream of yours. Think of who else could be involved. Give them the opportunity to be a part.

PRAY! Gracious Father of Life, Jesus challenges me to be like You. You are a Father. Abraham got his ways from You, the Father of fathers. Teach me to birth newness through others.

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THE CALL

THE CALL

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Ordination 2008

An eclectic group of businessmen, politicians, community leadrs and ministers representing baptist, pentecostal, charismatic, catholic, church of christ, apostolic, and others oversee an anniversay ordination for Phil.

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Home Troop

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H

Family in Mexico

Left to right, David, Mimi, Pros, Elizabeth, Elia, Carmen.... The younger ones call me Papa. It is an honor to be adopted by them.

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Three Amigas and Ricardo

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Mimi and Pros Wedding Cuernava, Mx 2008

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What is Missions?

Missionary efforts evoke much passion in congregations. Various approaches all seem to be the most needed and most effective. Some believe in fully funding missionaries to a cause. Some believe in missionaries self funding. Some let missionaries ask for offerings and some take the route of silence and prayer. Some work in the community and minister. Some dedicate full time endeavors to evangelism or some humanitarian cause. All can be effective. All can be useless.

The mission of a congregation is specific and general. The mission of an individual is specific and general. All are called to share faith and compassion with neighbors. All are called to a specific outreach. None seems right or wrong, just a choice of how to express.

Express we must. Not to express is the choice of escaping responsibility and accountability. It does not work. We are still responsible. We are still accountable.

For many years, I worked and gave large sum to local and far missions of congregations. For many years, I worked in the local and far missions and received my income from supporters. For many years, I've worked in business and given my time into local missions.

What is best? None. What is most effective? Pick any of the above.

But pick. Do something. It is passion about the people that builds effectiveness. It is loving the people to whom the mission is focused that makes the difference. Method of working it out and method of paying for it are not the issues. Doing it is the issue.

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Heart to Heart

Proverbs 27: 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

This quick trio of thoughts from the man of wisdom bring a quick observation. Consider the intermixture of thought. One man sharpens another. What we tend will produce for us. It is the heart that reflects.

Take some serious time this week to interact with another person at the heart level. Try to skip all of that face to face interaction that can interfere. Pierce through to the heart. Look deep into the eyes. Get connected. Tending this type of time with a trustworthy person will bring longlasting fruit into your life. It will change you and them together.

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Morning Prayers

Father, it is a beautiful day. In fact, every day You create is beautiful.
Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in our definitions and expectations, we miss beauty.

Help us to find beauty in today.
Help us to find peace in today.
Help us to find comfort in today.
Help us to find love in today.

Embolden us to give grace.
Embolden us to give mercy.
Embolden us to give forgiveness.
Embolden us to give support.

Let this day be a day we find what we need and give some to others.

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Thanks Giving

Finalizing 2008 comes to mind this week. Why do we think so far ahead? Why not just take care of the week. My mind is consumed with what needs to happen next week and the next and the next to cause this world to conform more to my Christ's heart. Why do we do that? Why do we take on tasks that are not our own? Why do we not say grace over what has been handed into our influence and be satisfied?

Thankfulness is a condition of settledness. It is acceptance of the present condition as a gift of God. Thankful living is a living based on pure trust of God's providence. Sure, we need to pray for the kingdom to come in fulness. Sure, we need to be concerned at the twists of men and women that do not see His kindness. Sure, we need to espouse the beauty of disciplines of God such as purity, chastity, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, love, joy, and peace.

Then be settled in the results. Be strong in faith that He is in charge of all of this universe. We march as soldiers of mercy and grace. Our smiles this week should preach a God in control and moving our world to a point of full redemption. He is doing that. Do you believe it? I do?

Our concern should now tighten our brow. Our prayer should not sour our speech. Our focus should not judge His created children. Do you believe it? I do? When we become this way, we have stepped away from trust and faith and hope and love and thanfulness and entered self reliance. God, forgive us and restore us to thankfulness.

Father, we are so thankful for Your love and life. You gave us this incredible world full of beauty. You launched us into a position of stewardship. In our hands You have place knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom cries out in the streets to guide us and protect us. All we have to do is grab it.

So teach us this week, the grace of gratefulness.
So teach us this week, the strenth of confidence.
So teach us this week, the power of faith in Your sovereignity.
So teach us this week, the rest of thankfulness .
So teach us this week, the peace of contentedness.

We rest in You and Your love.
We rest in the confidence that You are in control.
We rest in knowing You are moving all things to redemption.
We rest in understanding that no mountain, valley, field, river, or rocky landscape can separate us from the unfathomable destiny intricately factoried in Your heart and mind for us.

Thanks. Thanks for being God. Thanks for giving us a chance at living. Thanks for creating us and putting us in this world of promise.

Pain may come. But, it will pass.
Struggle may pounce. But, we get out from under.
Conflict may constrict. But, we burst free.
Misunderstanding may spin. But, we settle.
Dis-ease may attack. But, we heal.
Death may overwhelm. But, we live.

Thanks.

When The Right Is Wrong Cuándo El Derecho Está Equivocado.

Immigration is a process of moving from one place to another. The move requires heart, soul, body, spirit, mind, and emotion to make the journey. The passion involved in immigration is immense. The personal purpose involved in immigration is just that, personal. The persistence involved in immigration is outstanding.

Dispense por favor mis habilidades españolas primitivas. Todos tenemos que empezar en algún lugar.

La inmigración es un proceso de mover de un lugar a otro. El mueve requiere corazón, el alma, el cuerpo, el espíritu, la mente, y la emoción para hacer el viaje. La pasión implicada en la inmigración es inmensa. El propósito personal implicado en la inmigración es apenas eso, personal. La persistencia implicada en la inmigración es sobresaliente.

Let's talk about immigration from South to North America.

Permítanos discurso acerca de la inmigración de al sur a Norteamérica.

A brief study of ancient cultures in the Americas will reveal that major roads existed from Colorado deep into Mexico and beyond. These were normal travel routes for the peoples of another day. These peoples are some of our forefathers. They founded some of the Americas. They populated our nations. They did this before the Euros and Africans and Asians and other continents came to join. Enjoying free travel, cities were built up all along these trade routes. You can still walk through a few of them. They were a cultured and civilized people. Remember from whence we came.

Un estudio breve de culturas antiguas en las Américas revelará que los caminos mayores existieron de Colorado profundo en México y más allá. Estos fueron las rutas normales del viaje para las personas de otro día. Estas personas son algunos de nuestro antepasados. Ellos fundó algunos de las Américas. Ellos poblaron nuestras naciones. Ellos hicieron esto antes los euros y africanos y asiáticos y otros continentes vinieron a unir. Gozando el viaje libre, las ciudades fueron construidas todo el tiempo éstos comercian las rutas. Usted puede andar todavía por algunos de ellos. Ellos fueron una personas cultas y civilizadas. Recuerde de de ahí vinimos.

My grandparents were immigrants from Sweden and Italy. Yours might have been immigrants to. Others further generations back immigrated from other Europeon nations.

Mis abuelos fueron inmigrantes de Suecia e Italia. Suyo quizás había sido inmigrantes a. Los otros las generaciones adicionales apoyan inmigrado de otras naciones de Europeon.

My dad was orphaned and adopted at birth. Early on his parents split up. When his adopted mother died in his childhood, he was taken in by family. A brother-in-law to his mother was his surrogate dad for a few years. That man was an immigrant. At ten years old, he stowed away on a ship from Syria on which his father was travelling. The two landed in Mexico. The elder moved into the States and made a life. The younger stayed in Mexico for a year with another family and then came in with his dad. My father was supported by a Middle Eastern stowaway who slipped into the States via Mexico. I would not be here except for those facts. Remember from whence we came.

Mi papá quedó huérfano y adoptivo al nacer. Temprano en sus padres separó. Cuándo su madre adoptiva se murió en su niñez, él fue aceptado por la familia. Un cuñado a su madre fue su papá sustituto durante unos pocos años. Ese hombre fue un inmigrante. En de diez años de edad, él guardó en un barco de Siria en que su padre viajaba. El dos rural en México. El anciano se cambió a los Estados e hizo una vida. El más joven permanecido en México por un año con otra familia y entonces entró con su papá. Mi padre fue sostenido por un polizón medio-oriental que resbaló en los Estados vía México. Yo no estaría aquí menos esos hechos. Recuerde de de ahí vinimos.

Passion Pasión

Living among immigrants is an interesting journey. We all are doing it. The denial of that fact is a ridiculous psychotic ritual common to man. None of us likes to admit what we do not want to address positively. Our subconcious pressures try to block thoughts that we have defined as unpleasant. It is out of our control. We become desparate to just put a cap on the issue and ignore that we are talking about people. Being negative isn't pleasant so we just suppress reality.

Vivir entre inmigrantes es un viaje interesante. Todos nosotros lo hacemos. La negación de ese hecho es un ridículo psicopático ritual común al hombre. Ninguno de nosotros quiere admitir lo que nosotros no queremos dirigir positivamente. Nuestro subconcious presiona la prueba para bloquear los pensamientos que hemos definido como desagradable. Es fuera de nuestro control. Llegamos a ser desparate para poner apenas una tapa en el asunto e ignorar que hablamos acerca de personas. Es negativo no es agradable tan acabamos de la realidad de suprimir.

Recently, a friend of mine, who is a prison chaplain drove up to have lunch with another friend and I. We were in a shop that serves our Latino immigrant population. Since my friend works in the county prison, he is provided an unmarked police vehicle. It is unmistakeably a police vehicle. People began to drop out of sight. It was a nervous and laughable moment. It was sad. Recent "crackdowns" have created a tension among normal, God-fearing, beautiful people. Oh, my friend, who speaks Spanish better than English, and owns several businesses, is a national of the United States. His generations in this nation go back as far as mine. Remember from whence we came.

Recientemente, un amigo mío, que es un capellán de la prisión subió para tener el almuerzo con otro amigo y I. Estuvimos en una tienda que sirve nuestra población latina de inmigrante. Desde que mi amigo trabaja en la prisión de condado, él es proporcionado un vehículo sin marcar de policía. Es unmistakeably un vehículo de policía. Las personas comenzaron a retirarse de la vista. Fue un momento nervioso e irrisorio. Estuvo triste. "Campañas" recientes han creado una tensión entre normal, Dios-Temiendo, personas hermosas. Ah, mi amigo, que habla español mejor que inglés, y posee varios negocios, son un nacional de los Estados Unidos. Sus generaciones en esta nación vuelven por lo que minen. Recuerde de de ahí vinimos.

Purpose Proposito

People are here from other nations because they love what we represent. They are committed to make a better life for their children. Most understand, they will not enjoy the benefits of the immigration. They are typically passionate about family. They immigrate for their children and grandchildren and for family that has not even been conceived. We could use that spirit in our nation. Remember from whence we came.

Las personas están aquí de otras naciones porque ellos adoran lo que representamos. Ellos son cometidos para hacer una mejor vida para sus niños. La mayoría del entiende, ellos no gozarán los beneficios de la inmigración. Ellos son típicamente apasionados acerca de la familia. Ellos inmigran para sus niños y nietos y para la familia que tiene ni fue concebida. Podríamos utilizar ese espíritu en nuestra nación. Recuerde de de ahí vinimos.

Oh, remember that lunch meeting. We were discussing how to get more involvement from the Latino community in prison visitation and outreach. Other states have contracted with private prisons in our state to relocate Latino lawbreakers. Not every Latino is a nice guy. Most are. Seems like people are people, whatever their condition at birth. The compassion among people is huge. As any population immigrates (becomes a part of the new nation), they want to contribute and help. It just takes the right connections. Thank God for my friends, who just see people as people. Remember from whence we came.

Ah, recuerda ese almuerzo que encuentra. Discutíamos para cómo conseguir más participación de la comunidad latina en la visita de la prisión y alcance. Otros estados han contratado con prisiones privadas en nuestro estado para trasladar transgresores de la ley latinas. No cada latina es un buen tipo. La mayoría del son. Parece personas son personas, cualquier su condición al nacer. La compasión entre personas es inmensa. Cuando cualquier población inmigra (llega a ser una parte de la nueva nación), ellos quieren contribuir y ayudar. Acaba de tomar las conexiones correctas. Dé gracias a Dios para mis amigos, que acaba de personas de ver como personas. Recuerde de de ahí vinimos.

Persistence Persistencia

Our universities are silent in reaching the immigrating population. The percentages against the percentages of population are pitiful. The twenty-somethings, who are first generation USA born are out to change that. They are bright and persistent. They are committed to enter our systems and bless them with brilliance. They will not be denied.

Nuestras universidades son silenciosas en alcanzando a la población que inmigra. Los porcentajes contra los porcentajes de población son lastimosos. Los veinte-algo, que son primero generación EEUU nacidos están fuera cambiar eso. Ellos son brillantes y persistentes. Ellos son cometidos para entrar nuestros sistemas y los bendice con brillantez. Ellos no serán negados.

Visiting a family in their home, the father wept over one of his sons. Seems like that son has immigrated too well. He has embraced our drug culture in the states. The dad was talking about taking a 25% cut in an already low pay just to be home more often. He is committed to his children immigrating no matter the personal cost. My grandpa was like that. From Italy, he came. During the depression, he had to do some hard and humbling things to make it work for his family. Remember from whence we came.

Visitando una familia en su hogar, el padre lloró sobre uno de sus hijos. Parece ese hijo ha inmigrado también bien. El ha abrazado nuestra cultura de la droga en los estados. El papá hablaba acerca de tomar un 25% de corte en una paga ya baja para estar apenas en casa más a menudo. El es cometido a sus niños que no inmigran asunto el costo personal. Mi abuelito estuvo como eso. De Italia, él vino. Durante la depresión, él tuvo para hacer algunos duro y humillar las cosas para hacerlo trabaja para su familia. Recuerde de de ahí vinimos.

More later....

Más más tarde..