Panama

I recently found this page about my country. Maybe you'll like to check it out.

http://www.turistmo.com/index_en.html

2nd Part of the message

Let me continue with the message that I started a few days ago. Please remember the text in which this message is based is 1 Samuel 17.

5 stones that you can ask God to give you for this year and for the rest of your life. They are not only a weapon against your enemy, but also for your protection. David had already been anointed by Samuel. What you are going to receive, you'll receive first in the Spirit and then in the natural. If you receive them in the Spirit, the stones you'll be needing will show up according to the way you'll be needing them.

1) Discernment - do you accept every voice you hear? When you have discernment you know if a voice is coming from God or from the enemy. Don't stop to argue with the devil. Don't harbor doubt, fear, opposition. David did not stop to talk with his brothers. He went above what people were feeling, because he knew that God had delivered him before, and he would certainly deliver him from this Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:37...The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.")

2) Fear of God - what David was implying is that he did not fear the giant, he feared God. Fear of God brings reward. Goliath had a full armor, a lot of it made of bronze, and that weighed a lot.
But David said on 1 Samuel 17:35-36, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God". And then in verse 46: This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. David said "this day", not tomorrow or the day after but "this day". Whatever your enemy is - satan, doubt, misery, witchcraft, poverty, drugs...you can defeat it today in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel (1 Samuel 17:45). When you fear God you are not afraid of anything else.

3) Wisdom - a life of fullness, is a life of wisdom. When David's brother started talking and accusing him, the Bible says in verse 30 that "He then turned away to someone else". He was wise; act with wisdom. Imagine if David started arguing with his brother? He might have been entertained by something else. Sometimes is best to "turn away". That is how the devil wants us...entertained...fighting among ourselves and not against our enemy. Sometimes is best if you turn away from fighting, criticism, argument, opposition; do not condemn them, but do not be associated with them.

4) Faithfulness - there was a huge difference between David and Goliath. Something that went beyond the obvious differences like that David was Jewish and Goliath was a philistine; David was young and Goliath was older and a giant; David was a shepherd and Goliath was a seasoned soldier; David was handsome (v.42) and Goliath was ugly (the Bible doesn't say this but I think he was).
You have something that Goliath doesn't have. He might be big, be a giant, have a javelin...but what you have it's much more powerful than what he has. Look at verse 26, David asks "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" He was uncircumcised, you are circumcised!!! What is the circumcision? It's a sign of God's covenant with His people. Goliath doesn't have a covenant...but you do!! You serve a God of covenants. All the promises that are on His word are for you. No matter what situation you are going through right now, you have a God of covenants.

5) Faith - David spoke with faith. The Bible says in verses 45 to 47 that David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." He was sure that God was going to hand over the giant to him that day and also that the whole world would know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered there would know. The Bible says on Hebrews 11:1 that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". David was sure and certain of the outcome, because he knew the God he served.

Vacations

Well I am enjoying the last few days of my vacations. I was not able to go to the beach after all since the car we were going to take had to have some repairs. It is still drivable but since it is like an 8 hour drive, and we would be going through a lot of countryside (and I really mean countryside) we decided to stay, so it will have to be a next time. I have been able to enjoy time with my nieces and nephew which has been really nice. Right now schools here in Panama are in vacation, so it has been perfect to spend more time with them. It is amazing how you change and mature as you grow older. I remember when my nephew was born I was 12, and remembering back, I am a lot more patient with kids now than what I was back then. Now I have my 1 and 1/2 year old niece and I am much more patient and enjoy so much my time with her. Maturity...something you get as you get older and wiser. Children really are such a delight, they come up with the most outrageous ideas and they totally trust you as an adult. Innocence...something you would like them not to loose, but know they will. God is so wise. He says that we have to be like children. They believe what you tell them, they trust that you'll provide them with what they need, they are not worrying that they lack something they take for granted that you'll give to them whatever they need, they trust...attitudes that we should always have towards God.

Today I saw a movie called Gods and Generals about the American Civil War. I proved once more to myself how much I enjoy watching movies that are based on real life events. This movie gave a little sense of what it must have been like for those people who fought during this war. Brother against brother, father against son, very difficult. But slavery had to end one way or another. History is hard and we should never forget it, we should learn from past mistakes, but it seems that sometimes we don't and keep making the same mistakes. This is the first movie in a trilogy, so I can't wait to see the other two. The second movie is about the battle in Gettysburg, I don't know much about it but I believe it has been one of the worst battles. In the movie they center a lot around one General in the Confederate Army, General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. What got my attention the most is that he was very outspoken about his faith and was always mentioning God and quoting the word of God. I am going to do a little more research on him, to learn a little more about him. Well I do like watching movies based on true events.

I was thinking about a conversation I was having with some coworkers just before my vacations. We were talking about something and this very young guy (Julio, 18) started saying that his cousin was together with a boyfriend who let her pay for everything. There were 4 of us in the conversation (2 guys and 2 girls). For those who know me personally, you know that I kind of talk with my expressions. It seems that I can't keep out of my face what is going through my mind. So I kind of can imagine the face that I made. I was like "he does not pay for anything at all? What does he do when they go out?"...my friend said "my cousin always pays"...of course me and Ana, the other girl in the conversation, immediately put these faces. It's ok to share, but for the girl to always pay? No way! So I asked him...how old are they? he said "18"...so I was like "aahhh". That's why. They are very young, but that depends on the person. I know that even when I was 18 I would never allow that, pay for everything always, while he does not pay for anything at all? No way! Well but that wasn't what really got my attention, that was just like idle conversation. So the other guy (Gary) in the group suddenly asked me what do I do in the weekends, I told him that sometimes go to eat out, the movies, rent a video, do errands, and on Sundays I go to church. Then Julio asked me if I always go to church and if I went to the same church my cousin went to (of the 3 he was the only one that didn't know I am a Christian). So I told him no. He asked me then to what church I went to. I told him that I am a Christian and then the name of my church. He was like are you evangelical? and then I said yes. Then Gary asked me if I would marry someone catholic and I said no. I stunned them into silence, their eyes widened and I was a little amused by their reaction. They asked me why? And I told them that I could never marry someone who did not share my belief in Jesus, not a religion but a relationship with Him. That would surely become a strain on the marriage. They all looked at me like I was a little crazy and Ana told me if you fall in love with a catholic you will not be able to do what you are saying. Then we all received calls and the conversation stopped. I totally disagree of course with what she told me. The first thing for me to consider someone is that he has a personal relationship with Jesus. When I do marry someone and I say "I do", I will be saying "I do" to a lot of things, so I consider this extremely serious to take it lightly. The thing is that today people take this matter very lightly, and if anything goes wrong they could always get a divorce. No commitment. Only one who shares what I believe, and fears God the way I do, can give the kind of commitment I will give and I will expect once I make the decision. Once again I can find in the Bible something about their reactions...1 Corinthians 1:18.

I still have to finish the message that I started before, I'll do that soon.

Year 2005...fullness in God.

It is amazing. I started writing this on Feb. 5 and wasn't able to finish it, at least part of it, until today. I used some time at work to translate it and started writing it here in the blog back at the beginning of February.

This was the message that my pastor preached the last day of the conference. That would be Saturday morning (Jan 29). This is the only time that he preaches during the conference, closing the event. I pray that you read this with a spiritual mind and eyes and heart and I hope that you are ministered by it. Ask God for his wisdom and remember to always keep a balance. The Bible verses are all in New International Version.


We are now in the year 2005. It is the 5th year. The 5th day of creation (Genesis 1:22...God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number") was the day for multiplying life. Let this be a year also for bearing a lot of fruit.

1 Samuel 17:40-51
Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

David chose 5 stones from the stream. How many stones did he actually needed to defeat Goliath? Only one, but he chose 5. These stones determined the beginning of his success, his life in the future was going to have many hardships but also passion, power and purpose.
There are many stones on the stream, but he didn't just picked the first ones he found, the Bible says that he chose them, smooth stones. God has chosen you, you are not any type of rock, you are a chosen stone.
God also wants to give you 5 stones. Do you have a battle, a giant, somebody or something that wants to stop you from succeeding?


Before David chose the 5 stones, he faced some obstacles. When he arrived, Goliath was again challenging the army of Israel. The men of Israel were scared with the giant (1 Samuel 17:24...When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear). There might be a giant, a Philistine that you are afraid of, but David says in 1 Samuel 14:26...Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" . Hearing him, his brother got angry with him.

1) You sometimes will have to face incomprehension. The Bible says that his brother burned with anger and told him in 1 Samuel 17:28..."I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is". Don't stop when somebody does not understand you. If you stop until everybody around you understands you or understands what you are doing, you would probably wouldn't do anything, wouldn't get anything accomplished.

2) Sometimes you will have to suffer rejection in your life. (1 Samuel 17:28..."Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.") The one that is more painful is not the one coming from the Philistine, but the one that might be coming from your own brother. David didn't let that stop him. Rejection should not stop you. He was rejected by his own brothers, but David kept on going.

3) Disqualification - David deposited the stones in the pouch of his shepherd's bag (verse 40). Do not place the stones you receive anywhere. Look for a place where they are not going to fall out, do not throw away the pearls that you receive. Then on verse 33 Saul told him: "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." David didn't have a military training, he wasn't a soldier. Some people might think that you are not qualified because you are poor, because you don't have a college degree, etc. Nothing and nobody can disqualify us. It is not Saul (as in your parents, your friends, your boss, etc.) but the Spirit of God the one that determines if you have quality or not.

4) Imposition - Somebody wants to impose on you, what that other person has. Saul wanted to dress David with his own tunic, with his armor (v. 38). Someone wants to tell you what you need to do...the only one who should tell you is the Holy Spirit of God. Don't let the world's economy impose on your finances. Don't let society or the government tell you what you need to do or how are you supposed to live. Don't let an illness impose on what you can or can't do, or how your mood is going to be. We are free by the blood of the Lamb.

5) Goliath despised David. The Bible says on verse 42...He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. Some people are going to scorn maybe your youth, your position. The devil wants to reduce your self-esteem -- you are too fat, too old, too young, too ugly, too poor. Goliath had the same attitude as Saul...disqualified. There will always be people who think you should do this or that.
Goliath also cursed him...look at verse 43...He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. You have to have a stone to destroy every curse. We were called to be blessed and to be of blessing. You can have a generational curse from your ancestors, but now that you are in Christ, you do not need to accept that. David didn't accept the curse. Take a stone today and destroy every curse. If your father has diabetes it doesn't mean you'll also have diabetes, if your mother got pregnant before marriage it doesn't mean the same is going to happen to you. Tell your Goliath that any curse he launches at you will be returned to him.


Well I am a little tired of writing so I will continue this message later. Then we will take a look at the five stones God can grant you. I just started 15 days of vacations yesterday and I believe I am going to the beach this weekend. If so, I will try to post some pictures of my trip.

A fallen soldier

This was taken from the Insider weekly newsletter to The Moral Majority Coalition and The Liberty Alliance.


A Fallen Soldier Comes Home

“I’m bulletproof until the Lord calls me home to be with Him.” — Jesse Strong



On Friday, I will journey to Vermont to conduct the funeral of Marine Sgt. Jesse Strong, a Liberty University graduate who was killed in Iraq on January 26.
This young hero lost his life in the continuing effort to effect justice and freedom in a land that is slowly beginning to embrace these values after many years of living in the darkness of Saddam Hussein’s reign of terror.
Jesse, of Irasburg , Vt. , was a member of the 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division. He died in Al Anbar Province as a result of hostile action as he was riding in a convoy to sweep for mines and repel insurgents in the area.
A firefight ensued that day. Sgt. Strong was killed along with Cpl. Jonathan W. Bowling (23, Patrick, Va.), Cpl Christopher Weaver (24, Fredericksburg , Va. ) and Lance Cpl. Karl Linn (20, Chesterfield, Va.) when their Hummer was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
Jesse’s death stunned the Liberty community.
Students and faculty who knew him have described him as a gregarious soul with a booming and engaging laugh. While at Liberty , he served as a prayer leader and a resident assistant. He was a standout spiritual leader who was often described as having an ability to inspire others in their faith.
This was a young man full of life. Jesse loved people and cherished his relationship with Jesus Christ. He was an avid golfer and hunter and baseball fan. And I have learned that he enjoyed doing imitations of me. Following graduation from Liberty in 2003, he enrolled in seminary.
“If he had a bad day he didn’t show it,” said graduate student Linley Harrison, a friend of Jesse’s. “He had a heart of gold. He always wanted to talk about others, never himself.”
I am so proud of this young man and I continue to grieve for his loss. He had a future so bright and promising, but for reasons we may never know, God saw fit to call him home to heaven. In his brief time here among us, he touched many hearts and his friends and family will embrace his memory as long as they live.

The Ongoing Battle

As of this writing, 1,439 Americans have been killed in Iraq . Other coalition troops from 13 nations have also been killed there. More than 10,000 U.S. troops have been wounded in action.
We must never forget the sacrifice of these men and women, many of them at the very dawning of their lives, who valiantly left the comforts of home to fight for the freedom of the Iraqi people.
We are bolstered by the fact that freedom is taking root in Iraq . The elections there have been a resounding success.
“[T]he people of Iraq have spoken to the world, and the world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East ,” said President Bush.
During Wednesday’s State of the Union address, President Bush explained how the effort in Iraq is having enduring significance.
He stated, “In the long term, the peace we seek will only be achieved by eliminating the conditions that feed radicalism and ideologies of murder. ... The only force powerful enough to stop the rise of tyranny and terror, and replace hatred with hope, is the force of human freedom.”
In the days to come, as we mourn for Sgt. Jesse Strong and the other brave Americans who have fallen in Iraq , we will remember the President’s words and be strengthened to know that the blood of these heroes has not fallen in vain.

--Dr. Jerry Falwell