Peace in the middle of so much Violence

One characteristic of the time we live in is violence. This is something undeniable. This doesn't only happen at country's level where we see that the conflicts between nations get worse, but also we see it as much as a symptom of society as individual. It is even in social network!

Nowadays people live in a hurry and tense in the traffic, they exasperate easily if the person in front of them in the line to the cash machine takes longer than they should, we don't find tolerance whatsoever between each other, you can find insults everywhere in social media, people are killed just for a cellphone, brutally beaten up just for liking a different football team, verbal rudeness and lack of patience is daily fare, and abuse has become normal in many families. Sadly, it's not the first time that the earth is so full of violence.

The same characteristic is found in Noah's days. Genesis 6:11 says: "The earth was full of violence". I remember that 25 years ago I used to asked myself how much violence must've been back then for the Bible to say that the earth was full of violence, but now I think that maybe it hasn't been much different from nowadays or, at least, that we're close to be like them.

But what makes me think the most is that in Matthew 24:37 says that "as the days of Noah were, so will also the coming of the Son of Man be". That's to say, one of the characteristics of the earth before Jesus comes back is that it'll be full of violence.

2 Timothy 3:1-3 states it clearer because it says that the last days will be perilous and the people will be cruel, truce breaking, fierce, selfish and without natural affection.

I see these characteristics in many people nowadays. That's why, on one hand I'm happy that I can see that my Jesus is coming soon, but on the other hand it saddens me how many people suffers for violence, as much for receiving it as for giving it.

As christians, the Bible gives the solution: "Overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore, «if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.» Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good". (Romans 12:17-21)

In Jesus's time, there was an abusive Roman law, which consisted in that a Roman soldier could legally demand you to carry his package (backpack, purse, etc.) for one mile, and then you could leave.

Can you imagine that law nowadays? How do you believe people would react? How would you react if a policeman approach to you and say: "Carry my package for a mile"? I think that social networks would be fill with videos on those abuses, protests would fill many of our streets and many would rather fist-fight the police than to obey that law.

Sadly violence by words or actions ALWAYS produce more violence. Hurt people hurt people. That's why Jesus, in order to stop the degrading vicious circle of violence, told his disciples what to do: "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matthew 5:41). Would you be able to do it? That's why it's necessary more strength to be christian than not to be it.

Can you imagine the face of the Roman soldier after hearing from a Jesus's follower that he/she is offering to carry his stuff for one more mile? I imagine a face of surprise, thinking "is he/she for real?", but at the same time, of curiosity for knowing why he/she is different, why he/she is not upset or angry like everyone else, why he/she doesn't hate me like everyone else.

As a result, in the worst-case scenario, it's very likely that this soldier won't demand again to the same person to carry his stuff, but in the best-case scenario, surely this soldier will tell to this person: "I want to know the God you know".

Do you have a problem with your neighbor, family member, workmate? Any of them is starting to act with violence against you either by word or by action? How about if you get out of that degrading vicious circle of violence and rather start to apply this principle and let your heavenly Father move. Overcome evil with good! Ask for strength and wisdom to your Father to do this!

Will this guarantee that this person will change? No, unfortunately no. That's why Romans 12:18 says "as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men", in other words, sometimes people will not change, BUT check out what our Father promise us (and you can hold on to this promise!) in Psalms 34:12-14 if we want to see good days:

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it."

Note that ALL the requirements to see good days DEPEND ON US, no one of them depends of the things that happen to us. In other words, we might be surrounded by violence, BUT if we do not answer that violence with more violence, but rather, seeking peace, our Father promises us that we'll see good days!

Overcoming evil with good, seeking peace in the middle of violence, it might not end up in friendship with the ones that hurt us, but you will end seeing good days in the midst of violence, your heart will be protected against evil, you'll have joy in spite of everybody is attacking you, because you'll learn that the Prince of Peace will be with you always.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be trouble and do not be afraid" (John 14:27) 

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)

I hope this may have blessed you!

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For more teachings you may want to visit my page "Consejos y Enseñanzas Varias" (Various Tips and Teachings) clicking Here. There you will find teachings about marriages, parents, leadership and more =)

A prayer for 2018

Heavenly Father, I thank you for 2017 that just finished, because I know that You've been with me all the time. Maybe many times I didn't realize that You were there, but that doesn't mean that You weren't. And for this same reason I know that You'll be with me this year 2018.

I ask you to help me to see You all this starting year. I don't want to be led by my feelings, but I want to learn to live by faith. I know there will be problems, situation that will make me stumble and maybe I'll turn my eye off of You, but help me to put my eyes back to You rapidly, knowing that You won't condemn me for not having trusted You, but You'll be ready to receive me, hug me and help me to solve that problem.

Thank you for I know that you don't seek perfection in me. You don't ask me to be a perfect son, because You know that that is impossible for me. Rather, thank You because You gave your perfect Son so He may die for my imperfections, and thanks to Him, now You see me perfect, holy, pure and spotless. Thank You because that gives the confidence that in 2018 I can go forth for new challenges without the fear of being wrong before You, because I know that You won't be disappointed of me, that You won't get weary of my mistakes and sins, but You'll always be willing to help, correct and direct me with love.

Thank You because Your Word says that You go before me (Deuteronomy 31:8) and that You prepare the way for me (Ephesians 2:10). This means that 2018 isn't new for You. I don't know the things I'll face this starting year, but You do. And I know that, in Your faithfulness, You already ensured that any situation I face has a way of escape, so I'll be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). So I'll walk confident that You've already been to where I'll be and that You prepared everything for me.

I won't be afraid of the bad news that 2018 brings, because my heart will be steadfast trusting You (Psalms 112:7). You won't abandon me in anytime, move away from me nor leave me alone, but You'll ALWAYS be with me (Matthew 28:20). I decide to see your goodness (Psalms 27:13), and to believe that the earth is filled with your glory (Isaiah 6:3), and that includes my family, my business, my church and my country. My mouth will declare Your good news and not the bad news I'll hear. The physician doesn't have the last word, neither my boss, the president, the authorities, nor the things I see in my family. I decide to believe that You have the last word. I decide to believe Your Word and fix my eyes only on You.

Thank Father because You love and You will always do, and that love is the anchor that soul needs. I feel safe in You.

Amen

If you love your spouse, do not demand

If we read: "Love doesn't demand. Love gives. If someone demands you to prove your love, that person doesn't love you", immediately we think of that guy that manipulates his girlfriend to have sex if she really loves him. (Mental note: shame to him!)

Here I give you some other ways to manipulate which go unnoticed because they're not the most common case, but they are also ways to manipulate your spouse:
- If you love me, have dinner ready for me when I get home.
- If you love me, keep the house clean.
- If you love me, let's go out together at least once a week.
- If you love me, buy me what I want.
- If you love me, be more romantic.
- If you love me, dress as I want.
- If you love me, let's go to church.
- If you love me, read more your Bible.
- If you love me, etc.
Why don't you share other way to demand love that you've seen!

SOMETIMES WE UNCONSCIOUSLY DEMAND TO PROVE THEIR LOVE, and we do that not with our words but with our attitudes: we get moody, offended, we practice the ice law, we become rough, rude, etc. All of this happen if they fail to prove their love we expect.

As you may realized, the things that are demanded aren't bad, but this very fact is what make us think that we're right on demanding them. But this is a mistake. The fact that those things are right, don't make that demanding them to be right.

You can demand obedience to your children up to certain age. But once they grow and want to know the reason before to obey, you'd better know that reason!

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in all the versions you want, and I promise that you won't find this: "Love demands". On the contrary, verse 5 says: "Love doesn't seek its own".

So, what can we do to make them change? Well, what would you say to that guy that demands his girlfriend to have sex to prove her love? (Besides that to stay away from her!) "If you really love that woman, learn to wait". In other words, deny yourself for other person.

Renouncing to that desire for love for your spouse giving it to your Heavenly Father is the best way for you to get free of that constant inner dissatisfaction in which you live for not seeing your desire coming true. When you understand that your happiness has to be based on the fact that God is with you and not on that your desires come true, you'll start living in freedom

That desire of demanding your spouse, if you give it to your Heavenly Father, He can calm it down, appease it, and even take it away from you. And not only that, but He can help you to really love because He is love!

Of course that you can apply this principle with your friends, relatives, etc.

Why don't you share this to someone, but not so that that person may change, but to tell him/her: "Look, this made me reflect. I will ask for help to my Heavenly Father so that I may change" 😉

I hope this helped you! =)

I'm a rich man

My friends threw me a surprise party for my 40th birthday. They really surprised me! But in the middle of the celebration, I realized something: I am a rich man!

Seeing so many shows of affections of people that means so much to me, as many in the party yesterday as by phone or texts, it was just great. When I got home, my eyes were opened again to something very simple: I have a house! And then, I started to thank in my heart for everything I have: a place to sleep, food in my fridge, a fridge!, furniture, a car, a job, etc., and these are only the material stuff.

What really fills my life is the privilege of sharing my life with such good heart people, which I have as companions, friends and family, as many near to me as in other countries, from which I constantly learn and I'm able to see God's love in each of them.

I could tell how blessed I was by each of them and there are some tales to tell, but if I did, it'll be so long that you won't read this post! hahaha. Leaving jokes aside, I just want to acknowledge one person: my Ceci, my amorcito.

Amorcito, thank you for loving me and being by my side! You give so many reasons to be thankful for having you that I just don't know how to start. Your heart doesn't just make me to fall in love with you, but also it challenges me to be like you. Everyday you inspire me and challenge me to be better. With your example, you bring out the best of me. You believe in me even when I gave you reasons for not doing it. You are beautiful my love!

Romans 5:8 says that our heavenly Father loved us even when we were sinners. My amorcito, you are the person that daily shows me that love of my Father, because, after Him, nobody knows me better than you, and in spite of that, you still love me.

I am the richest man of the world for having you, the most precious possession of my heavenly Father.