Scriptures to Live By

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16: 33

I cling to these words today, for I believe challenging times are ahead, and my heart may be too weak to endure it.  That's why, instead of lingering on the problems, I must dwell in His Word.  That's why, instead of focusing on the future, I must stand on the Solid Rock and seek His Presence in the present.

The future does not belong to us.  It belongs to the Lord.  When we make the future our center, we enter a space that is not part of our realm.  That can cause all kinds of anxiety as fear for what we cannot control, but only imagine, overtakes us.  

That's not what we're called to do.  We are called to seek Him and trust His plan.  Even if the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, His steadfast love will never depart and His peace will never be removed, the Lord, Our God of compassion reminds us. (Isaiah 54: 10) 

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 exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3: 17-18

These are all words I will live by in the days to come.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6

And, May the God of hope fill [us] with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit [we] may abound in hope. (Romans 15: 13) And let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, to which indeed [we] were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3: 15) Amen!

Leaving the Results to God

 I've always been terrified of tests...any kind of tests.  Exams at school, medical tests (these are the absolute worst!), evaluations at work (talk about anxiety), presidential elections (enough said)...even silly questionnaires in ridiculous Teen Magazines made me nervous.  The reason tests are such fear-inducing elements in my life is because I don't handle well the period afterwards:  waiting for the results.  That's the real test for me...that, seemingly, never-ending moment (be it minutes, hours, days, weeks, months) when I'm done with the test, when it is out of my hands...and all I can do is wait.  I fear that more than most things in life.

I forget too quickly how God has been Faithful before and how He cannot help it but to continue to be Faithful forever!  This means, the same way He has been with me through all the tests I've had to go through so far, He will continue to be with me through all the tests I still will endure.  This also means that, even though the tests are hard and I have no guarantee of the end results; my faith will carry me through as His Presence is made evident, so I must just do the best I can, do my part, take the test, hand it in and leave the results to the Lord!

Whatever happens, He will be with me and He will protect me.  He will speak to me, and as His child, I will listen to Him whispering in my ear.  I will hear Him saying:  

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Even if the whole world as we know it collapses due to society turning its back on God and His ways; like the Israelites in the times of the Kings, who rejected His covenant, torn down His altars, and put His prophets to death with the sword (1 Kings 19: 14), the Lord will be with His children.  He will take care of His remnant. He will rise them up, and continue to speak to them in the still, small voice of His whispering.  He will reserve for Himself, and preserve those who do not bend the knee to the idols of this world (1 Kings 19: 18). And, in spite of the results of any test, He will call those who belong to Him and we will hear His Voice (John 8: 47).

I'd like to quote something I read yesterday:  "we delight in success.  But we may despair when we seem to fail.  Keep doing what God has called you to do, and leave the results to Him.  He has your name in His book!"  - because, ultimately, that's all that really matters: to have our name written in His Book of Life!

May God grant us whatever we need in order to endure the agony of tests. And may His Presence be evident in special and supernatural ways as we deal with the anxiety of the results, knowing full well that He IS in Control, that we ARE His children and that He WILL keep us in the shelter of His Strong Tower.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

By Faith We Run Our Race

 Hebrews 11 is often called the Faith Chapter.  It is the chapter that reminds us of the "Great Cloud of Witnesses" that surround us (Hebrews 12:1) and it is a good chapter to read today.

This is the chapter that defines faith as: [the] confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11: 1

Faith is not about "seeing" with our eyes the materialization of what we desire.  Faith is knowing God is able, and that He can, and that He will do all things, possible and impossible, according to His Plan even if we never get to see them in our lifespan.  

Like the hall of fame of faith listed in Hebrews 11, we might not get to see or receive all the things that are promised, but we know that all His promises will be fulfilled because He is Faithful and all His promises are true...regardless of whether we witness them or not.  By faith we know that: God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11: 40

It is our faith in His perfect plan what keeps us strong even if we realize, it is not for us to see it unfold. 

What do we do with the disappointment, then? How do we manage the disillusion of not being part of those who will witness the complete fulfillment of His promises? We keep the faith...it is our faith what will allow us to:

...throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1-3

Let's engrave this perfect words in our hearts, minds and souls.  This is the only thing that matters.  Everything else is superfluous.  Everything else withers.  Everything else passes away and is forgotten.  

May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to see with the eyes of our faith what is beyond our current circumstances, so we can stay strong on the One Whose Name is Faithful, and we can endure the race marked out for us...whether we get to cross the finish line the way we dream it or not.  In Jesus' All-Powerful Name.  Amen!

Jesus is Always Working in the Background

 This morning, I read a wonderful closing prayer in the devotional booklet: Our Daily Bread that I would like to reproduce here:

"Father in heaven, please help me to believe that You are always working in the background doing far more-and much better-than I know or understand."

This is my prayer for today, and for everyday...for every instance when we anxiously await for whatever events we are fearfully anticipating: a doctor's phone call, a meeting at work, a conversation with a long-estranged family member, the possibility of the end of a relationship, the future of your children, the results of an election.  Whatever it is that is causing us great stress due to uncertainty and anticipation, we can rest assured that Jesus's got it!  He is working in the background...ALWAYS!  He is moving and shaking things.  Nothing happens on any realm without His knowledge.  Nothing is a surprise to Him.

The devotional also reminded me of something that is key:  "God has always known or hearts far better than we do.  So He didn't entrust the fullness of His plans even to those who saw His miracles and believed in Him."  This statement is paraphrasing verses 23-25 in John 2...and it is mind blowing to me.

I think I might have read this verses many times; but I believe today is the first time I really have truly allowed them to speak to me.  John records these words in his gospel to wrap up the scene of Jesus clearing the Temple courts in chapter 2.  That is one of my favorite stories about what Jesus did while walking on this earth as a man.  I love it so much because I can relate to Jesus' actions completely.  He is speaking to people like me, who have a fiery temper...and it's like He is saying to me:  Gisela, there is a time when I will use you, because there will be a moment, when I will need someone explosive to overturn tables for me."  

I don't know if I'm right...maybe I'm just trying to justify my lack of self-control...but, pondering on all of these this morning, when I'm still riddled with anxiety, makes me realize that God's plan is never fully revealed in one linear act. He knows what is in each person's heart.  He knows what we can handle. He knows how much to reveal at the perfect time.  And, above all, no matter how unstable and uncertain things look, He is always working in the background.  He's got it all in His hands.  He fights our battles and best of all, He is already victorious!

May we be able to rest and find comfort in knowing that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with us always.  And may we remember that His Grace, IS sufficient.  Amen!

Waiting for the Lord

 Waking up this morning to the anxiety of not knowing who won the presidential elections is causing me to feel unwell.  This is not a healthy state of mind for anyone.  My spirit is shaking and the cold chills of fright run up and down my spine.  I brace myself, but fear overcomes me. I trust the Lord, but I wonder...

What can I do? How can I put my mind at ease?

Everytime I experience the wild emotions I'm feelin this morning, I go to the Psalms.  Drawing nearer Him by drawing nearer to the Word is the only thing that can truly quiet my heart.  Psalm 27 is speaking to me in a very profound way, especially the last two verses:

I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 13-14

I remain confident that the Lord is near; therefore hope is near, like CH Spurgeon said...nothing should make hope dissipate, even if the results of the elections are not what I had desired.  No election outcomes would change the fact that Hope is near because God is near. 

My confidence in the nearness of God gives me hope that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Right here and now...I will witness His goodness, because God is Good, and all the time He is Good!

And, my confidence in his nearness and goodness will equip me for the wait that still remains.  As I wait, my confidence and trust is in Him, and in Him alone.  No man that ever lived compares to the Lord.  No politician would ever be my savior or the savior of the world.  I belong to the Royal Family of My King...and no president would ever change that.  Therefore, I wait in confidence as My King gives me the strength and the heart to wait upon Him, and Him alone.

May Our Lord hear our voices when we call.  May He be merciful to us and answer us.  May the Holy Spirit guide us as we Seek His Face, for Your Face, Lord, is what we must seek.  In the Precious Name of My Jesus.  Amen!

The Man from the Town Called The Oak

 Everything I know about being strong to a fault I learned from my Dad.  He was larger than life.  Born in a place called The Oak, he was an oak of a man.  His presence was imposing and his voice carried through space, making walls shake and people tremble.  You may think I'm exaggerating, but the "man of the 4 Gs" Gonzalo Gaspar Gonzalez Gordillo was an intimidating man.  As his youngest child, however, I was able to know really well how, inside that rough and stern exterior lived a gentle soul, filled with love.

As a child growing up, I idolized him as I feared him...because he always showed me glimpses of his tender side while teaching me how the value of an unblemished reputation leads to being respected as a person of integrity and strength: his greatest goals in life.  As an adult, I saw his struggles.  I witnessed his pain.  I wiped his tears.  And for years, I offered him my listening ears so he would not carry his regrets to the grave.  

Today, a day full of uncertainty, when our nation goes to the polls to elect the person they consider best fit to guide this country through the incredibly choppy waters of the present and the many storms still ahead, I celebrate my father's birthday.  I miss him terribly.  When I lost him, I felt as if the floor had been removed from under my feet.  I felt as if I had lost my compass.  Today, years after his passing, I know my compass is not lost, for it is inside of me. The memories of the man God destined to be my father on this earth live in my mind, reminding me of the importance of remaining strong without forgetting to show love.  

The compass, however, was not my Dad.  He might have pointed me to it...but, though my Compass once hung on a tree, He is is bigger than the man from the town called Oak.  And He is King of King and Lord of Lords.  And no matter who wins today, Jesus Reigns!

Let's be strong and courageous.  Lets allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. And may we do what His people are supposed to do:  pray, and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways; so He may hear us, forgive us and heal us.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Distractions

 To say that I have been distracted lately is a large understatement.  Work has taken over my life since late August.  Actually, pretty much since March really, I have been consumed by work and its many challenges.  First the pandemic forced education to restructure its entire modality of distribution.  At the same time, I was transitioning to a role of more responsibility, a transition that has not been smooth or uneventful.  Challenges of all kinds have arised as I have become the Chair of our Department: financial, relational, professional, you name it.  We are witnessing many colleagues losing their jobs around us; and while I Praise the Lord my job is pretty stable at the moment...there are no guarantees...plus, the pain of seeing those we know being left out in the cold...makes the situation much dire for us all.

And that's just stuff at work, right?  I still have all the everyday worries and tasks that go hand in hand with being a Mom and a Wife...and way, way, way at the bottom...a housewife (One of the few benefits of the physical/social distance we need to keep is that the chances of someone popping up unannounced are pretty small, so nobody has to endure the trauma of seeing my messy house).

Many times I've just wished I could quit my job.  I was very close to it last week...

This morning, as I read more about King Solomon's life I began to think about how the biggest danger of distractions is the fact that they have the ability to take our attention away from what truly is important: keeping our eyes on Jesus...seeking Him first.

King Solomon was the wisest and richest man to ever live.  He had God's blessing.  He was anointed by the Most High.  God even appeared to him a couple of times!  But...he got distracted and things began to go south for Israel.  For starters, all that wealth.  Reading through the descriptions of how he built his palace and all the material treasures he accumulated is insane!  So much gold, silver wasn't even valued! But then...the worst thing for him was the women: 700 wives and 300 concubines...for a grand total of 1,000 women as part of his household.  Yep, attempting to keep 1,000 women happy would not leave much chance for anyone to think of much else...notice I said "attempting"...

Sigh...

I have no clue what he was thinking.  Where did all that wisdom go?  I mean, really?  The wisest man in history...1,000 women?  I don't get it.  

And, of course, most of them were from tribes and groups that were forbidden.  God had told the israelites not to intermarry from this list of groups of peoples...but...here comes Solomon...the wisest guy in town, thinking he knew better than God.  And God had not given that command for capricious reasons.  God knew the pull a spouse has, and those tribes and groups of peoples were not followers of the Almighty.  They had their own idols that they worshipped.  God knows how fickle our human hearts are and how easily we are swayed by those we love.  That's why it was best not to enter in relationships with those who could take our eyes away from Him.

But Solomon thought he could handle it, I guess.  But, he couldn't, of course.  So, soon, he found himself so busy building temples and altars for the gods of his many wives, that before he knew it, he was worshiping those gods too.  His mind was distracted...so, unlike his father David, his heart lost its way and didn't know how to chase after God's own heart anymore.

I certainly do not want that to happen to me.

After considering quitting my current position as Chair, I decided to stick with it until I finish up my term in 2023...if God allows.  But, I must keep my priorities straight.  Distractions would come and go, but as long as I am aware of Him, I must not let them take over me.  My goal is to put myself in the Hands of Jesus and let Him lead everything I do.  I want to do this job as if onto Him...and in order to do that, I must surrender to His holy guidance.  May His Word be the light to my feet and the lamp to my path.  And may the many distractions in our lives never usurp the place of He, Who Must always sit in Throne of the Most High.  Amen.