Life|Aggregated » God

What a difference a day makes…

Jose HC — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:18:33 +0000

What was bad news yesterday is good news today.
It is all about perspective and surrendering to the Lord.

After sleeping on it… and praying and talking to my wife about it today I have a deep peace. I know that God is in control and that He actually spared me of something. God is good. So good.

The Fear of Bad News

Jose HC — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:31:05 +0000

Psalm 112:7 (NIV) reads:

He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

I just received some bad news. An opportunity that I thought was a ‘dream opportunity’ closed due to a misunderstanding. What I considered the chance of a lifetime just disappeared before my very own eyes. It is terribly difficult to see it slip through my fingers and not be able to do anything about it. It is that feeling of powerlessness that as humans we find so frustrating.

Let me be honest with you… it hurts. And it hurts deeply. I had set my heart and my eyes upon this. Perhaps to such a degree that I took my eyes and my heart off the Lord? Not even sure what to think. It has only been an hour since this door for which I was so excited closed on me. Actually, it did not even close – it was slammed on my face and I am still in shock.

I look at what prompted it and I wish I could take back an email that I quickly and carelessly sent out this morning while doing 5 other things. What if…

And yet although I am so powerless I do know one thing. That the Lord doesn’t sleep… He hasn’t stopped taking care of me. My life is still in His hands. My present and my future belong to Him. Had He wanted this door to remain open, it would still be open right now.

But it is still sad.
And it still hurts.

I will think about the what-ifs for a while… but hopefully my heart will not linger on them.

Ohhh that my heart would only rest on Him! It’s the only place worthwhile…

So even though this piece of bad news saddens me… I do not fear it. Because my life is in His hands! (said he with tears welling up in his eyes)

The entire Psalm below for your edification and encouragement from Biblegateway.

Psalm 112 (New International Version)

1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.
2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Write The Future

Jose HC — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:03:05 +0000

The World Cup begins today. In fact as I write this Mexico and South Africa closed the opener with a 1-1 draw. Although I don’t necessarily want to give Nike free publicity on this blog, the video below is what I will be using for the intro to tonight’s sermon. Throughout the World Cup at Emmanuel Church we will be sharing about God’s team. Tonight I will speak to the youth and children about the opportunity to make into God’s team. Are they part of the team? Are they in the game? When the call comes will they be ready? Will they be willing? Will they be available?

Nike – Write The Future

Some others I may be use … or try and fit into the sermon (actually more like an object lesson)…

This other one is for the sound effects for the opening skit… this blog is a good to place to keep it.

Books of the Bible Song

Jose HC — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:56:26 +0000

Was thinking of doing something with this at church this evening. We want to encourage all of our kids to memorize and know the books of the Bible and this could be used for the launch.

Surrendering…

Jose HC — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:12:36 +0000

What does it really mean to surrender?
It is not about giving up … or quitting. It is more and less than that. Certainly different.
It means acknowledging that in our own strength we will not get there.

The problem with surrendering is that often times we say we are … but then we don’t. We continue as we were.

If I know that God is asking for something… and I want to give it to Him… how do I do this? How do I do this without taking it up on my strength a few days later?

How do we give it all up and not look back?

(These are just some thoughts for now… thinking out loud).

A Heart Divided – Reflections of Society

Jose HC — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:33:11 +0000

via chopshopstore.com

From the actual site – We contacted heart specialist, Chris Thornley, and had him create a “highly accurate” map of modern human passions for a new tshirt. After years of research (and several transplants), Chris developed the above: a definitive map of human passions. While the items included apply to all… proportions may vary. For this reason, we are considering increasing the size of the region allocated to the Original Star Wars Trilogy.

I saw this through another Posterous that I follow for work reasons … but I thought it should be posted here for future reference and perhaps a lesson or two at church.

To me it is a scary picture of us.
Luke 6:45 says it well…
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

What do we think about?
What consumes our thoughts?

Posted from Press On

I Need To Get Back

Jose HC — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:16:34 +0000

My mind has taken quite the vacation lately and I need to get back. Back to writing… back to seeking customers and opportunities. It is as if my heart is waiting for instructions on what to focus next. What to work on next?

But I must eat.

Perhaps on Monday.

He is all-sufficient… One of His names includes the word ‘Jireh.’ Look it up.

Must press on.

But my time is not my own.

Will press on.

Posted from Press On

Eternity In Our Hearts

Jose HC — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:25:48 +0000

There is a longing in my heart,
And in yours too.

For eternity
And for Him.

Many times it aches. And it hurts.

We want more, we yearn… God has placed eternity in our hearts. The longing for more… The desire to be connected to Him. Together with that longing comes an understanding deep in our hearts that there is more.

More to be had.

More than just this (whatever ‘this’ is).

The answer to that constant, never ending question in your heart is found in only one place. It is not a cause, or an ideology… It is not a theory or a belief. It is a person. He placed that yearning in your heart… for eternity,

…and for Him. His name is Jesus. I call Him Saviour and Lord.

Posted from Press On

The Right Foundations

Jose HC — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:28:44 +0000

We just returned from visiting a small Spanish speaking church in Mexican town (Detroit). My brother-in-law serves as the Pastor there and we are helping out for the next 2 weeks since he and his family are on vacation. …it is a small congregation in an area very close to being considered a ghetto. Or perhaps it is a ghetto (I am just not an expert on this and would hate to offend anyone). As is to be expected due to the area and the people around it the services are frequented by folks who are either iilegal, newcomers, or in some type of transit (are passing by, just came in through Canada …or waiting to get into Canada). It’s an interesting group of people who are part of a small yet lively new work in a very tough and scary neighborhood. One of the guys who is a regular told me today that he may be moving to Canada. Apparently his daughter lives close to Toronto already. The problem is that he is being ‘advised’ by someone to lie on his application into Canada; to claim that his son was being forced into a gang back in his country. He told me he wasn’t feeling right about it but that he didn’t see another option. This is where the idea of right foundations comes into play… That’s what I told him, that if he wants his move into Canada to be blessed he needs to be honest in his application. Simple for most of us, yet very hard for him. In his mind the lie could mean coming to Canada… And the truth could mean staying in Detroit and its depressed economy. I explained to him that building his application on a lie and by extension his new life in Canada on a lie would block God’s blessings. God is not free (due to his pure, perfect and holy nature) to bless a lie.

He told me wasn’t feeling comfortable with the lie. I told him that was God not letting him be comfortable about it. I think he’ll make the right decision and lay down the right foundation of truth. What about you?
Are you building on truth?
Are you building on Jesus?

Posted from Jose’s posterous

A Christmas Thought

Jose HC — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:14:17 +0000

My wife wrote this little blurb for her Facebook status. It didn’t quite fit so here is the full excerpt:

The most valuable things in life are not the ones you can see or buy in stores but those which are not seen. The love that we have for our families, our friendships and of course God and His love are the truly priceless treasures.

In a society where more is never enough, let’s try to remember that Christmas is about God’s gift of love for us. That’s the only thing that can bring contentment and true fulfillment.

May your Christmas holidays be amazing and may you enjoy each moment with all of your loved ones! God bless you!!

Merry Christmas!