An Advice that will help you to get your goals this 2018

If you divide what you want to achieve in 365 parts, I assure you that it'll get much easier. The problem that many people face when they resolve to achieve something is that they see what they want as a whole, and obviously what they see is an impossible-to-achieve goal.

What do you want for this 2018? To loose weight, a better relationship with your kids, with you wife, to be free from an adiction? Whatever it may be, you'll get discourage if you think that achieve your goal consists of just one step. Remember this: NO ACHIEVEMENT IS GOTTEN WITH JUST ONE STEP.

Any feat you want to achieve (or that has been achieved) will require time, sacrifice, care, discipline, perseverance, planing, etc., and obviously you can't apply these on just one day, unless, of course, that you know a person that in one day has lost weigh, gotten a dream marriage, restored his/her children relationship, been free from an addiction, etc.

Just in case, there is no magic pill that will make you to loose weigh without exercising and eating healthy food, and those persons that say to the ones with a great marriage, "how lucky you were to get such a beautiful marriage!", don't know what they're saying, they're wrong, because it cost them YEARS of learning to give in, to forgive, to understand and to sacrifice.

So, more than a goal, see what you want to achieve as a direction for YOUR DAILY STEPS to aim, and these DAILY STEPS, these do have to be your goals! EACH DAY AN INDIVIDUAL GOAL, which altogether will take you to where you want to get.

Learn to find satisfaction in achieving these daily goals, in the little ones, each and every day. Learn to be happy:
- Not only when you got your ideal weigh, but you finished a day of eating healthy and exercising.
- Not only when somebody tells you "how great marriage you have!", but when finished a prayer for your spouse (which is one of the many little steps to get to marriage restoration).
- Not only when you "feel free" from your addiction, but when your day is up and you didn't fall.

Doing this you not only will enjoy the process until you get where you want to go, but also you'll realize that doing exploits isn't something for a few people, but YOU also will feel that can do your own exploit, and you'll know there's nothing you cannot achieve.

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

Una oración para el 2018

Padre Celestial, te doy gracias por el año 2017 que pasó, porque sé que estuviste conmigo todo el tiempo. Quizás muchas veces no me di cuenta que estabas ahí, pero eso no quiere decir que no lo estabas. Y por lo mismo sé que seguirás estando conmigo en todo este 2018.

Te pido que me ayudes a poder verte todo este año que comienza. No quiero dejarme guiar por mis sentimientos, sino que quiero aprender a vivir por fe. Sé que habrá problemas, situaciones que me harán tambalear y quizás llegue a quitar la mirada de Ti, pero ayúdame a volver a poner mis ojos en Ti rápidamente, sabiendo que no me condenarás por haber dudado de Ti, sino que estarás listo a recibirme, abrazarme y ayudarme a salir de ese problema.

Gracias porque sé que Tú no buscas perfección en mí. Tú no pides que yo sea un hijo perfecto, porque sabes que eso es imposible para mí. Gracias, más bien, porque Tú diste a tu Hijo perfecto para que muera por mis imperfecciones, y gracias a Él, ahora Tú me ves perfecto, santo, puro, sin mancha. Gracias porque eso me da la confianza en que este 2018 puedo intentar nuevos retos sin temor a equivocarme delante Ti, porque sé que Tú no te sentirás desilusionado de mí, que no te cansarán mis errores ni pecados, sino que siempre estarás dispuesto con amor a ayudarme, corregirme y encaminarme.

Gracias porque tu Palabra dice que Tú vas delante de mí (Deuteronomio 31:8) y que preparas el camino para mí (Efesios 2:10). Esto quiere decir que el 2018 no es nuevo para Ti. Yo no sé qué cosas enfrentaré este año que comienza, pero Tú sí. Y sé que en tu fidelidad ya te aseguraste que cualquier cosa que enfrente no sea más de lo que pueda soportar, sino que has puesto una salida para mí (1 Corintios 10:13). Así que caminaré con la confianza que Tú ya estuviste por donde caminaré y lo arreglaste todo para mí.

No temeré a las malas noticias que el 2018 me traiga porque mi corazón estará confiado en Ti (Salmo 112:7). No me abandonarás en ningún momento, no te alejarás de mí, no me dejarás solo, sino que SIEMPRE estarás conmigo (Mateo 28:20). Decido mirar tu bondad (Salmo 27:13), decido creer que la tierra está llena de tu gloria (Isaías 6:3), y eso incluye mi familia, mi negocio, mi iglesia y mi país. Mi boca declarará tus buenas noticias y no las malas noticas que escucharé. El médico no tiene la última palabra, ni mi jefe, ni el presidente, ni las autoridades, ni las cosas que veo en mi familia. Decido creer que la última palabra la tienes Tú. Decido creer tu Palabra y poner mis ojos solo en Ti.

Gracias Padre porque me amas y siempre me amarás, y ese amor es el ancla que mi alma necesita. Me siento seguro en Ti.

Amén

New Year or New You?

Most people in this time of the year start to share what they wish for next year: more health, more opportunities, more family union, etc. The problem resides in that most of them wait for those improvements just to happen, and few are the ones that take responsibility for that to happen.

If you think that this year 2017 was equal to 2016, and this one was equal to 2015, and so on, I think that the problem doesn't reside in the years, but in you. And I can assure that, without fear to be wrong, that for you, if you don't change, 2018 will be equal too.

Instead of wishing for 2018 to be different, take responsibility of yourself so you can be different, and you will see that you'll have more authority and power to make the changes you need.

If you didn't like your 2017, don't blame 2017. Of course you didn't have control over the things that happened to you, but you did have control over your response. And it'll be so in 2018. As John Maxwell says: "You don't have control over the winds, but you do over the sail". 

The Bible teaches in Ecclesiastes 9:11 that opportunity come to all. That's means that in 2017 you did have opportunities, and that's means that in 2018 you'll still have them. So, will you be prepared for them? Will you have the right attitude? Will you expectant everyday for them to come or will you still be lamenting for the ones you lost?

I encourage you to have a more-than-a-conqueror attitude all 2018, knowing that your Heavenly Father will be with you all the time to help you in any situation you might go through. No more lamenting and no more complaints! Your Father has given you all what you need to see your dreams come true!

¿Año Nuevo o Tú Nuevo?

La mayoría de personas en esta época del año comienzan a compartir lo que desearían para el próximo año: más salud, más oportunidades de trabajo, más unidad en la familia, etc. El problema se encuentra en que muchos esperan que simplemente sucedan esas mejoras, y pocos son los que asumen la responsabilidad ello suceda.

Si piensas que este año 2017 fue igual al 2016, y éste a su vez fue igual al 2015, y así sucesivamente, creo que el problema no se encuentra en los años, sino en ti. Y puedo asegurar sin temor a equivocarme, que para ti, si sigues así, el 2018 será igual también.

En lugar de desear que el año 2018 sea diferente, mejor asume responsabilidad de ti mismo para tú seas diferente, y verás que sentirás que tienes más autoridad y poder para hacer los cambios que necesitas.

Si no te gustó tu 2017, no le eches la culpa al 2017. Por supuesto que no tenías control sobre las cosas que te sucedieron, pero sí tenías el control sobre tu respuesta. Y será lo mismo el 2018. Como dice John Maxwell: "No puedes controlar los vientos, pero sí las velas".

La Biblia enseña en Eclesiastés 9:11 que la oportunidad les llega a todos. Eso quiere decir que el 2017 sí hubo oportunidades para ti, y quiere decir también que en el 2018 las seguirán habiendo. Entonces, ¿estarás preparado para cuando lleguen?, ¿tendrás la actitud correcta? ¿estarás expectante cada día para cuando lleguen o seguirás lamentándote por las que te perdiste?

Te animo a que tengas la actitud de un más que vencedor durante todo este año 2018, sabiendo que tu Padre Celestial estará contigo en todo momento para ayudarte en cualquier circunstancia por la que atravieses. ¡Ya no más lamentos, ya no más quejas! ¡Tu Padre te ha dado todo lo que necesitas para que puedas ver tus sueños hacerse realidad!

Bye 2017: You got to the other side

What a year!

Many things happened in 2017! It started with a very hot summer which was alongside with an even hotter politic situation: interpellations, accusations, debates for the gender ideology, ex-president Toledo's capture order, among other things. Right after that, mudslides in different parts of Peru leave desolation and pain for whatever they went, whose consequences are still far from being restored.

Then a tragic fire touched many Peruvians because it revealed the slavery situation that many young people endured. The politic world didn't stop getting tense. In the middle of the year the ex-president Toledo and his wife were put in custody. Thousands of students were afraid to loose the school year because of the constant strikes of their teachers.

The interpellations to the state secretaries continued and corruption accusations reached the current president of Peru. The cabinet fell. The year crowned with the request of presidential impeachment.

And this is just in Peru. I have said nothing about Venezuela, the Middle East, the fear of a nuclear war, the earthquakes devastating different places, slaughters and shootings, etc. And of course, all of this is just the frame where all our personal problems took place.

But, you know something?, 2017 finished and we're still here. We got to the other side. The marks that 2017 left you are not of failure, but the prove that you got to the other side.

I explain it to you with this story: One mom watched over her kid from afar while he played in a river. Suddenly, a crocodile appeared, grabbed the boy's arm and started taking him inside the river. His mom run to him with all her strength while crying out loud for help. Surprisingly she got just in time to grab her other son's arm. The boy was pulled in one side by the crocodile, and in the other side, by the her mom. Thanks God there was a hunter in the area that heard her crying out for help and quickly approached to help and killed the crocodile with his weapon. The boy was taken rapidly to the hospital.

Once the boy was out danger, his mom allowed a journalist to interview him. The journalist asked him: "What do you think when you see the marks that the crocodile left you?" The boy answered: "Those marks mean nothing to me". Then he showed her his other arm and said: "This marks are the ones that do have a great value to me, because they represent that my mom didn't leave me and saved my life".

Maybe this 2017 left you with some marks, but those marks aren't of failure, because if it was so, you wouldn't be here. But you are here! You got to the other side! Those marks are the ones left by your Heavenly Father because He didn't let you go all this time. It was hard, but you got to the other side. And your Father promises you that He will be with you in 2018 no matter what it brings! Will there be difficulties? I'm positive that there will, but you won't be alone, He will keep holding your hand, and you can be sure that NOTHING will make Him to let you go.

Chau 2017: ¡llegaste al otro lado!

¡Vaya año!

En 2017 pasaron muchas cosas. Comenzó con un muy acalorado verano que acompañaba a una situación política todavía más acalorada: interpelaciones, acusaciones, debates por la ideología de género, la orden de captura del expresidente Toledo, entre otras cosas. Inmediatamente después, huaycos en diferentes parte del Perú dejaron desolación y dolor por donde iban, y cuyas consecuencias todavía están lejos de ser restauradas.

Luego un trágico incendio conmovió a los peruanos por poner en evidencia la situación de esclavitud que muchos jóvenes padecen. El mundo de la política no dejaba de ponerse tenso. A medio año se ordenó la prisión preventiva del expresidente Ollanta y su esposa Nadine. Miles de escolares en peligro de perder su año escolar debido a las constantes huelgas de sus maestros.

Las interpelaciones a los ministros seguían y las acusaciones de corrupción alcanzaron al actual presidente del Perú. Cae el gabinete del gobierno. El año se coronó con el pedido de la vacancia presidencial.

Y esto solo es del Perú. Falta hablar de Venezuela, del Medio Oriente, del temor a una guerra nuclear, de los terremotos que azotaron diferentes lugares, de matanzas y tiroteos, etc. Y por supuesto, todo esto es solo el marco en donde nuestros problemas personales se desarrollaron.

Pero, ¿saben qué?, el 2017 terminó y seguimos aquí. Llegamos al otro lado. Las marcas que te dejó, no son de derrota, sino la prueba de que pasaste.

Te lo explico con esta historia: Una mamá vigilaba a su hijo de lejos mientras él jugaba en un río. De repente, un cocodrilo salió, agarró al niño del brazo y empezó a llevarlo río adentro. La mamá corrió con todas us fuerzas mientras gritaba por ayuda. Sorprendentemente ella llegó a tiempo para coger a su hijo del otro brazo. El niño era tirado, por una lado, por el cocodrilo y, por el otro, por su mamá. Gracias a Dios un cazador pudo escuchar los gritos de auxilio y rápidamente se acercó ayudar, matando al cocodrilo con su arma. El niño fue llevado de emergencia a un hospital.

Ya fuera de peligro el niño, su mamá aceptó que una periodista lo entreviste. La periodista le preguntó: "¿Qué piensas cuando ves las marcas que te dejó ese cocodrilo?" El niño le contestó: "Esas marcas no significan nada para mí". Luego le mostró su otro brazo y le dijo: "Estas marcas son las que tienen un gran valor para mí porque representan que mi mamá no me dejó y me salvó la vida".

Este 2017 seguro te dejó algunas marcas, pero esas marcas no son de derrota, porque si lo fueran, no estarías aquí. ¡Pero estás aquí! ¡Llegaste al otro lado! Esas marcas son las que te dejó tu Padre Celestial al no soltarte en todo este tiempo. Fue difícil, pero estás aquí en el otro lado. ¡Y tu Padre te promete que seguirá estando contigo en el 2018 sin importar lo que este traiga! ¿Habrán momentos duros? Seguro que sí, pero no estarás solo, Él te seguirá sosteniendo de la manó, y puedes estar seguro que NADA hará que te suelte.