Saturday, September 22, 2012

La Luz del Evangelio en Vacijas de Barro

Dedicado a mi gran mentora y amiga: Abuelita Blanca :) 

Por lo cual, teniendo nosotros este ministerio según la misericordia que hemos recibido, no desmayamos. Antes bien renunciamos a lo oculto y vergonzoso, no andando con astucia, ni adulterando la palabra de Dios. Por el contrario, manifestando la verdad, nos recomendamos, delante de Dios, a toda conciencia humana. [...] No nos predicamos a nosotros mismos, sino a Jesucristo como Señor, y a nosotros como vuestros siervos por amor de Jesús, porque Dios, que mandó que de las tinieblas resplandeciera la luz, es el que resplandeció en nuestros corazones, para iluminación del conocimiento de la gloria de Dios en la faz de Jesucristo.
 
Pero tenemos este tesoro en vasos de barro, para que la excelencia del poder sea de Dios y no de nosotros, que estamos atribulados en todo, pero no angustiados; en apuros, pero no desesperados; perseguidos, pero no desamparados; derribados, pero no destruidos. 10 Dondequiera que vamos, llevamos siempre en el cuerpo la muerte de Jesús, para que también la vida de Jesús se manifieste en nuestros cuerpos, 11 pues nosotros, que vivimos, siempre estamos entregados a muerte por causa de Jesús, para que también la vida de Jesús se manifieste en nuestra carne mortal. 12 

16 Por tanto, no desmayamos; antes, aunque este nuestro hombre exterior se va desgastando, el interior no obstante se renueva de día en día, 17 pues esta leve tribulación momentánea produce en nosotros un cada vez más excelente y eterno peso de gloria; 18 no mirando nosotros las cosas que se ven, sino las que no se ven, pues las cosas que se ven son temporales, pero las que no se ven son eternas.

2 Corintios 4:1-18

¿Que tal ese desafío espiritual?

No nos desanimemos y renunciemos a las maneras ingeniosas para vivir en la declaración abierta de la verdad. ¿Por qué? Porque lo que proclamamos es de Dios quien resplandeció en nuestros corazones el conocimiento (esto implica conocer) de la gloria de Dios, que es Jesús. Sin embargo, este tesoro se encuentra en vasos de barro, para que sepamos de quien realmente es el poder. Por eso, aunque pasamos por tiempos difíciles, no nos angustiamos llevando en nuestro cuerpo la muerte de Jesús, para que su vida se manifieste. Así que no nos desanimemos! Aunque nuestros cuerpos se están gastando, nuestro ser interior se va renovando cada día porque estamos preparado para cosas más grandes que tenemos por delante. Nos estamos preparando para la eternidad.

Me encanta este pasaje. Esta fue mi devocional de hoy y quise compartirlo con todos!


Con amor,


Ana 

The Light of the Gospel in Jars of Clay

Dedicated to my mentor and friend: Grandma Blanca :)

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3[...] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
 
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11[...]

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

How is that for a spiritual challenge?  

We do not lose heart and renounce to cunning ways to live in open statement of truth. Why? Because what we proclaim is from God who has shone in our hearts to give us the knowledge (this involves knowing) of the glory of God which is Jesus. However, this treasure is in jars of clay so that we know whose power it really is. So even though we go through hard times, we don't despair carrying in our bodies the death of Jesus so that his life may be manifested. So we don't lose heart! Even if our bodies are wasting, our inner self is daily being renewed for we are preparing for greater things ahead of us. We are preparing for eternity.

I love this passage. This was my devotional today and I just wanted to share it with all!

Love,

Ana

Monday, September 10, 2012

I saw this on a mug and thought it very practical.

Live by faith. Galatians 2:20
"And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Grow in grace. II Peter 3:18
" But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "

Walk in love. Ephesians 5:2
"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Seek peace. I Peter 3:11
"let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it."

Be filled with joy. Psalm 68:3
"But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!"

And I will add one more....

Never get tired of doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13
"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good."

:) Blessings to all!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Some sense of humor...

For all those Shakespeare fans, one of my friends shared this video with me, and I am sure you will appreciate it!



Nothing like some good old Bible stories!


Take the wisdom men and apply it!


My Life: God's Work of Grace

"[...] that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them [...]. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors [and] implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that [we may obtain God's righteousness through him]." 

 

2 Corinthians 5:19-21

 




Grace is a gift. The sacrifice on the cross is God's ultimate message of reconciliation. It is God's hand reaching out to humanity. It is the ultimate sacrifice and the purest representation of true love to obtain the forgiveness of our transgressions. Let's be reconciled to God. Let's find ourselves in Him. Let's get to know Him and see that He is the great I Am. Christ's sacrifice on the cross for all of humanity changed Isaac Watts' life, my life, and will continue to change the lives of many around the world. This beautiful hymn was written by Isaac Watts in 1707 and touched my life today. It reminded me of who I am, which is difficult sometimes to see and realize, but it ultimately reminded me of who Jesus is and who I am in Him. My life is truly a work of grace, and I would not be here had I not found it.
 
"O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name" 


Chorus Contemporary Version When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Michael W. Smith

 "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." 

 

Galatians 6:14

 

"Love so amazing, love so divine, 

 Demands my soul, my life, my all." 

Isaac Watts, 1707