HE IS WITH ME

By: Tiffany Penn
 
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” -Matthew 19:14
 

HE IS WITH ME

I am scared of the dark
But I should not be,
Because a very special Person
Is here with me.
 
His name is JESUS.
 
He whispers in my ear,
“There is nothing to fear”
So I lay back because
 
JESUS is with me.
 
 
 
 
 


He Knows Your Name!

By: Art Herrera
 
Freedom Friday :
 
As a kid growing up in a Bible Believing, Preaching Church my wife Andrea Sainz Herrera learned a song that I’m sure many of you know. It’s based on a story found in Luke 19 and it begins like this:
Zaccheus was a wee little man,
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree,
For the Lord he wanted to see.
It’s a catchy little song but don’t write it off as just a song for kids because the story it tells, found in Luke 19:1-10 carries some profound truths. I encourage you to read it in your devotional time.
I want to share a few things with you from this passage. The first actually comes from the last verse in the text, and I believe that’s a perfect summation of Jesus’ mission:
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.
The word lost here doesn’t just mean something misplaced, like a set of keys, It means something that has lost its purpose. Something that is not fulfilling the purpose for which it was made. It’s broken, not functioning.
Zacchaeus was lost, broken. And the truth is every person is lost without Jesus – we are all failing to fulfill the purpose for which we were designed.
Jesus came to find us and restore our function, redeem us for God’s purpose.
look at what happened when Jesus encountered Zacchaeus on that road. There are four things I want you to notice that happened to Zacchaeus, but they also apply to you and me when we really want Jesus in our lives.
 
1. He knows your name
As he was passing by, Jesus stopped, looked up into the tree, and called Zacchaeus By Name. He didn’t point and say “hey you”, he called his name. Jesus had a personal encounter with Zacchaeus. And he calls each of us by name. Jesus is calling you now.
 
2. He makes you what you aren’t
Zacchaeus’ name means “pure” but as a tax collector, someone who cheated other Jews and was rejected by them, he was anything BUT pure. That is, until Jesus called him
 
3. He welcomes you as a friend
We find Jesus inviting Himself over to Z’s home. Even though he didn’t know Zacchaeus, he stopped and said, “I must stay at your house today.” He treats Zacchaeus, the hated tax collector like a dear friend. Not only does he invite himself but he brings his buddies and says, “we’re staying for dinner.”
Jesus wants to make himself at home in your heart. (Side note) My daughter Christian Mendez says about Christianity, ” it isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship.” Jesus wants a personal relationship with you.
 
4. He changes your life
In verse 9, Jesus says, “today salvation has come to this household.” Zacchaeus joyfully received Jesus Into his home (heart).
The story continues that it wasn’t simply a matter of sharing a meal. Z’s heart grew. After meeting with Jesus things were never the same for him. And that’s what happens for us when we encounter Jesus, welcome him in, and experience a changed heart.
 
Jesus was just passing through Jericho that day. And He’s still passing through today, inviting each of us into a relationship where we’re HIS friend, no longer lost, but restored to our God-given purpose.
Have you invited Jesus Christ into your house (heart) if not what’s stopping you. You can pray this simple yet sincere prayer inviting Jesus Christ into your heart. Jesus the door of my heart is open and I invite you to come in and wash me clean from all my Sins, today I accept you as my Lord and Savior, in Jesus mighty name.
If you prayed that prayer I welcome you to the family of God.
To God Be The Glory.
P.A
 
 


The ONLY Reason…

By: Anita Mondragon
 
 
Why are you here?  In this time period of the world, I mean?  
 
I’ve asked myself these questions many times.  Why here, in this country?  Why now?  Why in this state?  Why in THIS neighborhood?
 
My 13 year old son asked me this question this morning as he heard his dad and I discuss the state of the world.  We were watching the news and heard of more shootings, suicides and chaos.  We posed the question to each other with no hope of an answer ….  “What is this world coming to?”  Then the answer came…”an end…it’s coming to an end!”
 
My son said, “I wish I hadn’t had to live in this time.”  
 
We’ve all thought or said this as we’ve wished for the days of the past when the world was a kinder place to live.  When folks didn’t have to lock their doors.  When kids could play outside until dark and walk home safely by themselves without fear of being taken.  When murder was uncommon.  When abortion was unheard of.  When suicide rarely took place.  When folks looked out for each other and helped one another.   But those days are gone, never to return again until Jesus comes and changes things!
 
I told my son, “but we must remember WHY we are here, right NOW, in THIS time and place.”  You see, we all have a purpose.  We may be the only witness to those around us.  We may be the only light in the dark.  We may be the only person to tell someone of Jesus and His love. Wouldn’t it be glorious when you get to Heaven to have some unknown person run up to you and say, “I wouldn’t be here, if it wasn’t for you!  I’m only here because I saw Jesus in you!”
 
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus stepped down from His throne in Glory to become a man in this world.  He didn’t come as an all-knowing being-although He was.  He didn’t show up in pomp and splendor-although He was, and is the King of Heaven.  He came as a baby, needing His mother’s help in everything.  He came in a manger, surrounded by smelly farm animals.  He came that way so that He could experience everything mankind experiences.  As a child, I’m sure He fell and scraped His knee.  As He learned to be a carpenter, I’m sure He hit His thumb a few times.  He felt pain.  He endured sickness.  He went through everything we go through.  He did it for ONE REASON ONLY, and that was to SEEK and to SAVE that, which is lost-namely, mankind!
 
He went back to Heaven, and we are now responsible to be the light, share the truth, bring people to Him.
 
Are we doing that?  Are we kind?  Loving?  Generous? Helpful?  Are we showing the JESUS that now lives in us to this dying, sinful world? 
 
                                                                    It’s the ONLY REASON we are herenow...in this place!


Pretty Sure…or Certain

By Anita Mondragon:
 
Rocket Mortgage has a new commercial out with this quote.  The new commercial states that, “Certain is better!”  The Bible agrees with this idea in regards to your Salvation!  It says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” ‭‭I John‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NKJV
 
God wants us to be certain of our salvation!  
 
As may of you already know, my dad was a preacher for over forty years.  Every Thursday night, the whole church would go out on Church Visitation.  We’d go door to door and talk to folks about Salvation.  We always asked the question… “Do you KNOW you are saved and on the way to Heaven?”  We got various answers to this question.  Some folks would adamantly say “YES”.  Some would say, “I don’t know…”  Others would reply, “I’m pretty sure I am…I sure hope so!”
 
God wants us to be certain of our salvation in Him, otherwise the devil can have a field day making us doubt that we have indeed been washed in the Blood of the Lamb.   It says in Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  There is CERTAINITY in that verse!  God promised that if we called on Him with a contrite heart, and repented of our sins, and asked Him to save us…He would.  No doubts.  
 
Don’t go through life doubting and wondering if your salvation is secure.  Jesus said in John 10:28-30 :
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
 
God said it.  BELIEVE IT AND BE CERTAIN OF YOUR SALVATION!


MY JESUS

By Michael Mondragon
 
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” -2 Cor. 9:15
 
If I could leave one thing to you,
Riches of this world, just would not do.
 
A beautiful home would be so nice…
But security and money would not suffice.
 
So, if I may…I give to you
The gift of Jesus, to see you through!


HE LOVES ME!

By Anita Mondragon

 

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  I John 4:10


THE GREATEST MAN I’VE EVER KNOWN

By Anita Mondragon

   (This is Jesus speaking!) …Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

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WARNING! BEWARE!

By Anita Mondragon
 
Satan wants your mind!


SATURATE ME, LORD!

By Anita Mondragon
 
One of our friends, Israel Herrera, made some comments at church a few months back.  I can’t quote him exactly, but I’m going to paraphrase and tell you what I gleaned from his words.


IS THERE A “KINK” IN YOUR HOSE?

By Anita Mondragon
 

Have you ever been out watering your garden?  Every flower you meet is thirsty for a drink!  With your fancy nozzle in hand, you begin showering each plant with life-giving water.

Everything is going right…the water is flowing freely.  But…then it happens!  All of a sudden, the flow of water stops!  Nothing is getting through that fancy nozzle.

WHY?  There’s a “kink” in the hose!

You see, the power is still happening at the main source-the faucet.  The problem is not the main source, it’s the conduit-the hose that got twisted.  That happened to me this morning as I was watering my garden.

The Christian Life can be the same way!  One minute, you’re so close in fellowship with God, you feel as though you can almost touch His face!  His Life-giving Water is flowing through you-spilling out on the thirsty souls you encounter.

Then, something happens in your life to twist you all up inside.  It may be health issues, loss of a job, family problems….  At any rate, the “water” stops.  The joy is gone.  Only bitterness, anger and rage are present.

There’s nothing wrong with the Power source.  God is still there in the midst of your troubles.  He’s still pouring out His words of love, peace, joy and blessing; but you can’t hear them now…the anger inside of you is too loud!

The only way to get rid of a kink in the garden hose is to walk back to where you see it twisted, and straighten it out.

The only way to rid yourself of kinks in your troubled life is to go back,  find what it is that’s twisting you all up inside, give it to Jesus-lay it down, walk away (don’t pick it back up!),  and allow HIM to straighten it out!

If you do that, His love joy and peace will once again spill out to those thirsty souls around you, pouring out Life-giving Water, and you, yourself will be refreshed!

Anita