En Santiago 1:21 vemos como funciona este proceso:

Santiago 1:21
21 Por lo cual, desechando toda inmundicia y abundancia de malicia, recibid con mansedumbre la palabra implantada, la cual puede salvar vuestras almas.

En este pasaje vemos el proceso de la renovación de la mente, a traves de las palabras desechar e implantar. La palabra desechar es apotithemi, la cual W. E. Vine define así:

APOTITHEMI, sacarse de uno (apo, de, y tithemi, poner, colocar, establecer), sacarse, desechar, dejar de lado, denota en la voz media, sacarse de uno, echar fuera, alejar.

Vemos mucha similitud con la idea que nos da Romanos 12:2 cuando nos habla de una metamorfosis; para hacer un cambio es necesario desechar algo.

La otra palabra, implantar, también tiene que ver con esto, pues ya que hemos sacado algo debemos colocar algo. La palabra implantar es emphutos la cual define W. E. Vine de esta manera:

EMPHUTOS, implantado, o enraizado (de emphuo, implantar), es usada en Santiago 1:21, “implantada,” la palabra de Dios una “palabra enraizada,” una palabra cuya propiedad es enraizarse como una semilla en el corazón.

Para palabra se usa logos, una palabra que ya conocemos y significa, la Palabra de Dios como un todo. Es decir nos habla del estudio continuo de la Palabra, como una herramienta para que nuestra mente sea renovada.

Un alma salva, es una mente restaurada o renovada por la Palabra de Dios.

Si quieres renovar tu mente, debes colocar la Palabra de Dios en ella, para que ya no pienses como piensa el mundo, sino como Dios lo hace.

2 Pedro 2:1-1
1 Desechando, pues, toda malicia, todo engaño, hipocresía, envidias, y todas las detracciones,
2 desead, como niños recién nacidos, la leche espiritual no adulterada, para que por ella crezcáis para salvación.

Debemos depositar la Palabra de Dios en nuestras vidas para de esa manera renovar nuestras mentes y poder salvar nuestras almas.

Proverbios 23:7
7 Porque cual es su pensamiento en su corazón, tal es él...

La importancia de la renovación de la mente es que nosotros nos convertimos en aquello en lo cual pensamos en nuestro interior.

- 40 days without food
- 3 to 4 days without water
- 2 min without oxygen

but, I can't survive a single moment without God.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Psalm 84 (NIV)

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. ^[a]

 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, 
       O LORD Almighty!

 2 My soul yearns, even faints, 
       for the courts of the LORD; 
       my heart and my flesh cry out 
       for the living God.

 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, 
       and the swallow a nest for herself, 
       where she may have her young— 
       a place near your altar, 
       O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; 
       they are ever praising you. 
       Selah

 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, 
       who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, 
       they make it a place of springs; 
       the autumn rains also cover it with pools. ^[b]

 7 They go from strength to strength, 
       till each appears before God in Zion.

 8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; 
       listen to me, O God of Jacob. 
       Selah

 9 Look upon our shield, ^[c] O God; 
       look with favor on your anointed one.

 10 Better is one day in your courts 
       than a thousand elsewhere; 
       I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 
       than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; 
       the LORD bestows favor and honor; 
       no good thing does he withhold 
       from those whose walk is blameless.

 12 O LORD Almighty, 
       blessed is the man who trusts in you.

The effects of the withdrawal on her little body have been significant. Mood swings, tantrums, noncompliance, screaming, toileting regression – yeah, poop everywhere -, night screams, increased stimming. She was nearly manic – too much energy, unable to sleep, much too much going on inside and out. 

Trapped.

It was a brief period of just holding on for dear life and trusting God that she’d be there when it was over. 

My family gathered,

and we prayed.

After a span of unbearably hot days,

the rain came.

In the midst of the storm, Rhema gleefully ran outside for a taste and a baptism.

And I knew she was still with us. Of course.

She is the one who gives well just when I think she has nothing left.

Like the rain lily . . . thought not to last . . . but when the rain comes she sprouts new flowers in a succession of blooms.

An amazing little girl whose blithe spirit refuses to be parched.

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. ~Langston Hughes

Nous: mente, generalmente hablando denota el centro de la conciencia reflexiva, incluyendo las facultades de percepción y entendimiento, y las de sentimientos, juicio y determinación.

Veamos Romanos 12:2 en otras versiones para tener una idea más amplia:

Nuevo Testamento de Arcas y Fernández
No os amoldéis a los criterios de este mundo. Dejaos transformar; renovad vuestro interior de tal manera, que sepáis apreciar lo que Dios quiere, es decir, lo bueno, lo que le es agradable, lo perfecto.

Biblia Latinoamericana
No sigan la corriente del mundo en que vivimos, sino más bien transfórmense a partir de una renovación interior. Así sabrán distinguir cuál es la voluntad de Dios, lo que es bueno, lo que le agrada, lo que es perfecto.

Biblia del Pueblo de Dios
No tomen como modelo a este mundo. Por el contrario, transfórmense interiormente renovando su mentalidad, a fin de que puedan discernir cuál es la voluntad de Dios: lo que es bueno, lo que le agrada, lo perfecto.

Biblia Castilian
No os amoldéis a los usos y costumbres propios de este mundo; antes bien, procurad que vuestra mente renovada opere la transformación de vuestra personalidad, para que lleguéis a comprobar lo buena, grata y perfecta que es la voluntad de Dios.

Dios Habla Hoy
No vivan ya según los criterios del tiempo presente; al contrario, cambien su manera de pensar para que así cambie su manera de vivir y lleguen a conocer la voluntad de Dios, es decir,lo que es bueno, lo que le es grato, lo que es perfecto.

The Message
No te vuelvas tan ajustados a tu cultura que encajes en ella sin siquiera pensarlo. En vez de eso fija tu atención en Dios. Serás cambiado desde tu interior. Fácilmente reconocerás lo que Él quiere de ti, y rápidamente responderás. A diferencia de la cultura que te rodea, siempre arrastrándote a su nivel de inmadurez; Dios sacará lo mejor de ti; desarrollando en ti una bien formada madurez.

Estos es lo que hablamos acerca de renovar la mente; la cultura que vivimos y los moldes y patrones del mundo en que vivimos nos están alejando de lo mejor que Dios tiene para nosotros; nos impiden crecer, madurar y alcanzar la perfecta voluntad de Dios para nuestras vidas.

Por eso debemos cambiar nuestra baja manera de pensar; y transformarla, renovando nuestra mente, pensando como Dios piensa, por esos caminos más altos que están escritos en Su Palabra.

Dios quiere que hagamos una metamorfosis; así como un feo gusano se convierte en una bella mariposa; convirtamos nuestra mente pervertida por la forma de pensar del mundo en una mente madura que camina y conoce la perfecta voluntad de Dios.

Salmo 23:3
3 Confortará mi alma; Me guiará por sendas de justicia por amor de su nombre

Salmo 23:3 (Biblia de las Américas)
3 El restaura mi alma; me guía por senderos de justicia por amor de su nombre.

Salmo 23:3 (Nácar Colunga)
3 Recrea mi alma, me guía por las rectas sendas por amor de su nombre.

Salmo 23:3 (Palabra de Dios Para Todos)
3 Él renueva mi alma. Me lleva por buenos caminos para mostrarme lo bondadoso que es.

Salmo 23:3 (Reina Valera 1865)
3 Hará volver mi alma: guiarme ha por sendas de justicia por su nombre.

Salmo 23:3 (Reina Valera 2000)
3 Convertirá mi alma; me guiará por sendas de justicia por su nombre.

Aquí vemos varios significados de la palabra que Reina Valera tradujo como confortar; en realidad el significado es más profundo; la palabra hebrea usada, shub, significa voltear, devolver, restaurar; y ese es el sentido que le dan las otras versiones de la Biblia.

No nos habla de un sentimiento de comodidad, como parece mostrarnos la palabra confortar, sino que nos habla de un cambio más radical y profundo: recrear, restaurar, renovar, hacer volver, convertir.

Esta palabra me recuerda lo que hacía mi abuelita que era una mujer muy hábil y emprendedora.

Me acuerdo que los sillones de la sala de estar tenían la tela desgastada; así que ella fue, compró nueva tela, quitó completamente la antigua tela, quedando solo con el esqueleto del sillón, y finalmente colocó la nueva tela.

Al final se veía un sillón nuevo, pero en realidad no estaba nuevo, estaba renovado o restaurado.

All week long Rhema’s grandmother has asked Rhema questions as if she fully expects that she will get an answer. “What did you do at school today, Rhema?” Later she will ask, “Did you play on the playground today?”, “Which do you like best, the slide or the swing?” She does not ask in a grilling, testing sort of way, but in a conversational manner as if they’ve been talking together all their lives. These are not rhetorical questions; even though no reply is given, the expectation of an answer remains.

Her expressionless face, her averted eyes, her sometimes detached body language belie the fact that she is listening or even understanding.

I always talk to Rhema as if she understands what I am saying. I tell her where we are going, what we are going to do. I inform her about the order of things: “First bath, then pop (sicle).” When I send her off to school, I tell her to be a good girl. I tell her to keep her clothes on. I tell her that Mommy loves her more than anything. I tell her that I am so proud of her.

But I realized this week that I’ve stopped asking questions. I suppose that after all these years of never getting a response, I just stopped… expecting, hoping. And I did not even realize it. I still ask questions in the form of choices, such as food choices. Holding up her PECS icons, I will ask, “Do you want chicken or hotdog?” But there are no longer questions about her, how she feels, what she likes, what happened in her day.

“Rhema, where’s Mommy?”

That question used to kill me. At the end of a speech therapy visit or an OT session, I will come into the room and her therapist will say, “Rhema, where’s Mommy?” I stand there feeling uncomfortable, as her therapist crouches down to Rhema’s level and tries to get eye contact, urging her to look in my direction. Sometimes I kind of smile and wave my hand in a goofy way. Me. Over here. I’m the mother. I know Rhema knows who I am. I know she knows I love her, and I know she loves me. So it doesn’t bother me that much anymore that Rhema fails the find-your-mother test every time. In fact, lately I think she may purposefully not acknowledge the question because she’s insulted by it. Of course I know who my mother is.

“Rhema, will you show me your new shoes?” Rhema was sitting in her chair eating dinner. At first she looked off into the distance. “Rhema, do you like your new shoes?” her grandmother asked. Then she looked over her tray and down at her dangling feet. She flexed her feet up and down displaying her pretty shoes. She clearly understood the question, and she clearly gave an answer.

“How was school today?” is a big question even for a typical child. Today if Rhema gave a vocal answer to that question someone would surely have to pick me up off the floor. But it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t ask it. At best, she knows that I care about how her day went at school.

I remember when I was pregnant with Rhema, Brandon and I went out to dinner with a couple we had met at a training in Germany. The couple had two sons, a 7 year old and an infant. I was instantly drawn to the seven year old. He was such a beautiful boy. I began talking to him right away, asking him lots of questions. When he didn’t respond, his mother interjected:

“He has autism.”

I knew very little about autism at the time, so all I said was, “Oh.”

We all went out to dinner, and no one spoke to the boy for the rest of the night. I supposed that the explanation that he had autism meant that I was not supposed to speak with him. It was as if he wasn’t there, even though he was with us the whole time, quietly eating his dinner. That memory stays with me. I pray that Rhema is never that alone.

To those of you, family and friends and neighbors of Rhema, thanks for being brave enough to let your words hang unrequited in the air. I always appreciate you when you say hi anyway. When you ask questions anyway. When you high-five anyway.

Because you’re still expecting an answer,

It encourages me to keep asking questions.

9 I say to God my Rock, 
       "Why have you forgotten me?
       Why must I go about mourning,
       oppressed by the enemy?"

 10 My bones suffer mortal agony
       as my foes taunt me,
       saying to me all day long,
       "Where is your God?"

 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.

I was trying to clean up our old computer, delete ancient files, make some more space. I came across a letter that I do not think I had ever read before. It was written by my dear husband to our firstborn, while he was serving a year-long deployment in Iraq. Rhema was born about 6 weeks after Brandon deployed, and he returned home when she was almost 1 yr. old.

6 September 2004 (from Tikrit, Iraq)

Precious Rhema,

I remember the first time I ever thought about you. Your mother surprised me—although as soon as I saw her face, I knew what she was about to say. I remember her beaming face. You were so small then. Smaller than my pinky fingernail. Yep, definitely smaller than that. I was speechless, so speechless that your mother had to ask if I was excited. Oh, I was, I just don’t show excitement too much thinking it to reveal my immaturity. I imagined the cradle your mother’s body was. I was so concerned for her for she never sits still. Then you started to make a bump of your mother’s tummy. I watched you grow from inside. One day, we went to the doctor and I got to watch you sleep inside mommy as you were growing. My goodness. It was a miracle. I looked at those pictures of you resting inside Mommy often while I was away. I had to go to Iraq to protect you, which meant I wasn’t there when you were born. But, I am coming home soon. I can’t wait to hold you. I can’t wait to try to teach you something. I can’t wait until you recognize me. I can’t wait until you scream “daddy” when I come through the door. I can’t wait until you are old enough to know about Jesus. (I pray you accept Him at a young age and follow Him forever.) I can’t wait until I see you play sports. I can’t wait to see you sing. I can’t wait to see you make us all proud as you head off to college. I can’t wait to see you accomplish a million things your mother and father didn’t. I can’t wait to see you married to a Godly husband. I can’t wait to see you and your family (my grandchildren) take on the world for Christ. But, I have to wait. I don’t want to rush any moments. I want to slow down and cherish each second.

Your daddy loves you with all his heart. I hope I get to be your hero.

Love,
Daddy

Just wanted you to know, dear Brandon, that you’re her hero. Remember the sign that was posted in the old gym in Germany at your homecoming from war? Even though, you are still waiting to hear her scream “Daddy!”, you are her hero.

Every time you teach her something new – be it pulling up her pants or using a spoon – you’re her hero.

Every time you fall on your knees before God on her behalf, you’re her hero.

Every time you hold her in your loving, strong arms for a butt-shot, you’re her hero. 8)

Every time you sing “Yes, Jesus loves Rhema”, you’re her hero.

Every time you clean up the poop art, you’re her hero.

At every doctor’s appointment, therapy visit and school meeting, you’re her hero.

Every time you get up early and seek God’s face on how to lead this family, you’re her hero.

Just wanted you to know, B.

Rascal Flatts, cue music.

Antes de conocer a Jesús nuestra forma de pensar era la manera que tiene el mundo, siguiendo la corriente de este mundo y su estilo de vida. Los patrones que teníamos nos inducían una y otra vez a caminar en pecado.

Efesios 4:17-24
17 Esto, pues, digo y requiero en el Señor: que ya no andéis como los otros gentiles, que andan en la vanidad de su mente,
18 teniendo el entendimiento entenebrecido, ajenos de la vida de Dios por la ignorancia que en ellos hay, por la dureza de su corazón;
19 los cuales, después que perdieron toda sensibilidad, se entregaron a la lascivia para cometer con avidez toda clase de impureza.
20 Mas vosotros no habéis aprendido asía Cristo,
21 si en verdad le habéis oído, y habéis sido por él enseñados, conforme a la verdad que está en Jesús.
22 En cuanto a la pasada manera de vivir, despojaos del viejo hombre, que está viciado conforme a los deseos engañosos,
23 y renovaos en el espíritu de vuestra mente,
24 y vestíos del nuevo hombre, creado según Dios en la justicia y santidad de la verdad.

Ahora que hemos nacido de nuevo, Dios nos manda a no caminar mas como el mundo lo hace, y la forma de hacer esto es cambiando nuestra forma de pensar, por medio de la renovación de nuestra mente.

Romanos 12:1-2
1 Así que, hermanos, os ruego por las misericordias de Dios, que presentéis vuestros cuerpos en sacrificio vivo, santo, agradable a Dios, que es vuestro culto racional.
2 No os conforméis a este siglo, sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que comprobéis cual sea la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta.

Nuestro espíritu fue renacido pero nuestra alma debe ser renovada.

La palabra griega para transformaos es metamorphoo de donde viene nuestra palabra metamorfosis, W. E. Vine la define así:

METAMORPHOO: cambiar en otra forma (meta, implicando un cambio, y morphe, forma), se usa en Voz Pasiva para los creyentes, en Romanos 12:2, “transformaos,” la obligación de experimentar un cambio completo que, bajo el poder de Dios, encuentra su expresión en el carácter y la conducta; morphe hace hincapié en el cambio interior, schema (ver suschematizo, el verbo precedente en ese verso) hace hincapié en el cambio exterior, el tiempo presente continuo indica que es un proceso; en 2 Corintios 3:18 se describe a los creyentes siendo “transformados a su imagen” (la de Cristo con todas Sus excelencias morales), cambio que es efectuado por el Espíritu Santo.

La palabra para renovación es anakainosis que significa hacer nuevo (ana, de nuevo u otra vez, kainos, nuevo, no reciente pero diferente), renovar. W. E. Vine lo define así:

Es usada en Romanos 12:2, “la renovación (de vuestro entendimiento),” es el ajuste de la visión moral y espiritual, y del pensamiento hacia la mente de Dios, la cual es designada para tener un efecto transformador sobre la vida; este pasaje en Romanos hace hincapié en la voluntad de responder por parte del creyente.

Es al creyente a quien le corresponde renovar el entendimiento, no a Dios.

Isaías 55:8-11

8 Porque mis pensamientos no son vuestros pensamientos, ni vuestros caminos mis caminos, dijo Jehová.

9 Como son más altos los cielos que la tierra, así son mis caminos más altos que vuestros caminos, y mis pensamientos más que vuestros pensamientos.

10 Porque como desciende de los cielos la lluvia y la nieve, y no vuelve allá, sino que riega la tierra, y la hace germinar y producir, y da semilla al que siembra, y pan al que come,

11 así será mi palabra que sale de mi boca; no volverá a mí vacía, sino que hará lo que yo quiero, y será prosperada en aquello para que la envié.

¿Como es que cambiaremos nuestra forma de pensar baja por la manera alta de pensar de Dios?

Por medio de la renovación de nuestra mente.

1 Tesalonicenses 5:23

23 Y el mismo Dios de paz os santifique por completo; y todo vuestro ser, espíritu, alma y cuerpo, sea guardado irreprensible para la venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Para entender la renovación de la mente debemos entender la naturaleza tripartita del hombre; el hombre es un espíritu que tiene un alma y vive en un cuerpo.

El espíritu es la parte central del hombre, es el hombre interno, el corazón.

El alma es la parte mental del hombre, su intelecto, sus pensamientos, su voluntad.

El cuerpo es la parte física del hombre, que está regida por los cinco sentidos físicos.

2 Corintios 5:17

17 De modo que si alguno está en Cristo, nueva criatura es; las cosas viejas pasaron; he aquí todas son hechas nuevas.

El día que nacimos de nuevo nuestro espíritu fue salvo pero no el resto de nuestro ser, ahora nos toca hacer algo con el alma y el cuerpo.

1 Pedro 1:9

9 obteniendo el fin de vuestra fe, que es la salvación de vuestras almas.

La palabra griega para fin en este verso es telos, que significa el resultado final de un estado o proceso, dando énfasis en el destino del asunto o de la cosa.

Para salvación, es soteria, que nos habla de un rescate en este verso, de la experiencia presente del poder de Dios para librarnos del pecado; para el creyente esto es equivalente a la santificación.

Este verso no nos habla de la salvación eterna, sino del recate de nuestras almas del presente sistema en el que vivimos.

However, she, in all her 19 months of wisdom, has been employing these principles for one important ambition, that is, what the playright Daniel Kamenetz referred to as "the salutation of slapping palms."

Rhema never stops moving.

But Hope, with her chubby, toddler legs chases Rhema day after day, week after week, month after month. With her arm raised in the air, Hope calls out imploringly,

“High five? High five?”

According to Wikipedia, “If one initiates a high five by raising a hand into the air and no one consummates the celebration by slapping the raised hand, the initiator is said to be "left hanging."” (For more on High Five Ettiquette, click here).

Until today, Hope had always been “left hanging.”

Rhema has been a tad bit peeved with Hope, since hhhmmm, the day Hope was born. It was understandable in the beginning: all siblings go through adjustment periods when the new baby arrives. For Rhema, I had always been her means for communicating and getting what she needed or wanted. She was queen of the “autistic leading” technique. Without words, she would simply grab my hand, drag me to the desired object and thrust my hand at it. I believe my preoccupation with Hope as a baby caused Rhema to view her as an intruder and an interference, and she has tenaciously held onto that view.

Rhema’s game plan has been to basically ignore Hope’s existence until Hope has a popsicle. Then Rhema turns into Swiper and steals the popsicle. Oh man.

The response to the plaintive request for a high five has been no response... or a fast run in another direction. In the past I have felt bad for Hope – getting dissed and all – so I have offered her a high five. But she shakes her head… she doesn’t want it from me, she wants it only from Rhema. I have attempted to tackle Rhema and force her hand to slap Hope’s, but it always reeks of phoniness.

Nevertheless, Hope possesses that defiant boldness and strong devotion that embodies hope. She insists on sharing something with Rhema – not her popsicle, not her toys – no way! - but a connection, a greeting, an acknowledgement. Her determination reminds me of the Dreamgirls hit “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” sang by Jennifer Hudson.

And I am telling you
I'm not going,
Even though the rough times are showing.
There's just no way, there's no way!
We're part of the same place,
We're part of the same time.
We both share the same blood.
We both have the same mind.
….
I'm staying, I'm staying,
And you, and you, and you, you're gonna love me.
Ooh, you're gonna love me.
You're gonna love me!

Today, finally today, Hope got her breakthrough. She was in hot pursuit when Rhema stopped abruptly, causing Hope to crash into her. Hope stepped back and raised her hand in the air.

“High five?”

Rhema awkwardly, all the while grinning and avoiding eye contact, slapped the palm of her sister.

What word suffices here? Momentous? Stupendous? I cheered like the Red Sox had won another World Series.

Hope, of course, couldn’t get enough and requested high-fives all afternoon. And Rhema obliged her every time.

Sistas at last.

“A high-five is done when two people congratulate each other after they achieve success.”

You could see her and the testimonies of many who were touch with her ministry

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-489770957716402240]

Blessed and Highly Favored

Malissa

Consecration to God's Plan  part 1

 by Pastor Kenneth E. Hagin

(Editor's Note: This article was adapted from the book Following God's Plan for Your Life by Kenneth E. Hagin)

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder....And he went a little farther, and fell on hid face and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  (Matthew 26:36,39)

In this passage, we can see the Lord Jesus Christ in His prayer life praying the prayer of dedication.  These verses give us an example of Jesus' dedication as He consecrated Himself to do the Father's will. What was Jesus talking about when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane,"...if it be possible, let this cup pass from me..." (Matt 26:39)?

Jesus knew the Cross lay before Him.  He knew He was about to be made the sacrifice for sin on our behalf (Heb 9:26).

Think of all the sins committed by mankind throughout the ages - all the immorality, debauchery, murder, and hatred! Jesus was made sin for us so we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2Cor 5:21).  But in the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing He was going to the Cross, the pure, spotless Son of God drew back from the prospect of bearing the sin of all mankind and experiencing separation from God.

No wonder when those final hours drew near, Jesus was sorrowful and heavy (Matt 26:38; Mark 14:34).  Even though Jesus knew His substitutionary death for mankind was the reason He had come into the world, He battled the temptation to draw back from what was to come.  He prayed to God, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me!"

The Bible says He sweated as it were great drops of blood as He wrestled with the temptation to draw back from the Cross in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:24).  It wasn't easy for Jesus to fulfill the Father's plan for Him.  In fact, going to the Cross to be crucified for the sins of the world was a bitter cup to drink.

But Jesus knew the outcome of redemption would be the salvation of mankind, so for the joy set before Him, He surrendered to His Father's will (Heb 12:2).  Jesus prayed a prayer of consecration and dedication, saying"....O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, THY WILL BE DONE" (Matt 26:42).

God is looking for believers who will dedicate and consecrate themselves to carry out His plan for their lives, just as Jesus did at Gethsemane and throughout His earthly ministry.  The Lord's eyes roam throughout the earth to find people whose hearts are dedicated to Him (2 Chron 16:9 NIV).  God is looking for believers who will say as Jesus did, "Not My will, Father, but Your will be done."

.........To Be Continued........ 

Food for thought........

"It wasn't easy for Jesus to fulfill the Father's plan for Him.  In fact, going to the cross to be crucified for the sins of the world was a bitter cup to drink."

Think about the truth of this statement and consider the sacrifices that God has asked of you.  You may not have been asked to lay down your life for the sins of the world, but guaranteed God has asked something of you that truly was your "bitter cup to drink". 

If you are still at the crossroads trying to decide which route you will take, my advice to you is to take a moment and reflect on the ultimate decision Christ had to make.  Consider His situation and the valid reasons He could have used to excuse Himself from the task that was asked of Him.  Then reread the passage found in Matt 26:36-42.

Search your heart for all the valid reasons that you could "excuse yourself" from the task asked of you.  Write them down and dedicate your list unto the Lord.  Ask that God search your heart, and to change those things that are keeping you from being obedient.  Remember "God is looking for believers who will say as Jesus did, "Not My will, Father, but Your will be done."

May God bless you and keep you until next Sunday when we will continue with part two of "Consecration to God's Plan".

How much you pay for your dreams,is how much they are worth.. Big dreams, i guess, are more expensive...

- YJ 23 by 1nov
- ABB, (gp:b h1:c) for A levels

My favorite verse over the last few years comes from Habakkuk Chapter 2 verses 3 and 4.  The prophet is frustrated why God is not giving him answers on several inquiries.  I think of Job when he played 20 questions with God.  Often times God calls us to obedience before understanding.  This is one such situation.  Verse four ends with a command for the righteous to live by their faith!

 
 3 This vision is for a future time.
      It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
   If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
      for it will surely take place.
      It will not be delayed.

 4 “Look at the proud!
      They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.
      But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Please SHARE A VERSE THAT MOVES YOU here.

Hebreos 11:3

3 Por la fe entendemos haber sido constituido el universo por la palabra de Dios, de modo que lo que se ve fue hecho de lo que no se veía.

Hebreos 11:3 (Biblia del Pueblo de Dios)

3 Por la fe, comprendemos que la Palabra de Dios formó el mundo, de manera que lo visible proviene de lo invisible.

Hebreos 11:3 (Biblia Castilian 2003)

3 Por la fe sabemos que los mundos y los tiempos fueron organizados por la palabra de Dios, de suerte que de lo invisible surgiera lo visible.

Hebreos 11:3 (The Message)

3 Por la fe podemos ver que el mundo fue llamado a existencia por la palabra de Dios, lo que vemos fue creado por lo que no vemos.

Este verso que vemos es bien claro, el mundo y todo lo que conocemos fue formado por la Palabra de Dios, creando las cosas que se ven de las que no se veían.

Dios llamó al mundo a la existencia con sus palabras tal como vemos en Génesis.

Génesis 1:1-3

1 En el principio creó Dios los cielos y la tierra.

2 Y la tierra estaba desordenada y vacía, y las tinieblas estaban sobre la faz del abismo, y el Espíritu de Dios se movía sobre la faz de las aguas.

3 Y dijo Dios: Sea la luz; y fue la luz.

Si vemos todo el capítulo 1 de Génesis veremos que Dios habló 7 veces para hacer su creación y cada vez que Él habló fue formado algo.

Su Palabra tiene poder creador.

Lo sexto que debemos entender es que la Palabra de Dios tiene poder para reproducirse en nosotros.

La parábola del sembrador es una muestra clara de cómo la Palabra de Dios puede llegar a reproducirse en nosotros.

Lucas 8:11

11 Esta es, pues, la parábola: La semilla es la palabra de Dios.

Mateo 13:19

19 Cuando alguno oye la palabra del reino y no la entiende, viene el malo, y arrebata lo que fue sembrado en su corazón.

Veamos ahora como es que esa semilla de la Palabra crece en nuestro corazón.

Marcos 4:26-29

26 Decía además: Así es el reino de Dios, como cuando un hombre echa semilla en la tierra;

27 y duerme y se levanta, de noche y de día, y la semilla brota y crece sin que él sepa cómo.

28 Porque de suyo lleva fruto la tierra, primero hierba, luego espiga, después grano lleno en la espiga;

29 y cuando el fruto está maduro, en seguida se mete la hoz, porque la siega ha llegado.

La Palabra tiene poder para reproducirse en nosotros y dar fruto.

Le sétimo que debemos entender es que para que la Palabra se vuelva real en nosotros debemos vivirla.

Nosotros no podemos llegar a vivirla si es que no la conocemos.

Juan 8:31-32

31 Dijo entonces Jesús a los judíos que habían creído en él: Si vosotros permaneciereis en mi palabra, seréis verdaderamente mis discípulos;

32 y conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os hará libres.

Para poder ser verdaderos discípulos de Jesús debemos conocer y permanecer en Su Palabra.

Santiago 1:21-25

21 Por lo cual, desechando toda inmundicia y abundancia de malicia, recibid con mansedumbre la palabra implantada, la cual puede salvar vuestras almas.

22 Pero sed hacedores de la palabra, y no tan solamente oidores, engañándoos a vosotros mismos.

23 Porque si alguno es oidor de la palabra pero no hacedor de ella, éste es semejante al hombre que considera en un espejo su rostro natural.

24 Porque él se considera a sí mismo, y se va, y luego olvida cómo era.

25 Mas el que mira atentamente en la perfecta ley, la de la libertad, y persevera en ella, no siendo oidor olvidadizo, sino hacedor de la obra, éste será bienaventurado en lo que hace.

Este pasaje es bien claro; no solo debemos recibir la Palabra sino que debemos convertirnos en hacedores de ella; debemos vivirla para que se vuelva una realidad en nosotros.

Josué 1:7-9

7 Solamente esfuérzate y sé muy valiente, para cuidar de hacer conforme a toda la ley que mi siervo Moisés te mandó; no te apartes de ella ni a diestra ni a siniestra, para que seas prosperado en todas las cosas que emprendas.

8 Nunca se apartará de tu boca este libro de la ley, sino que de día y de noche meditarás en él, para que guardes y hagas conforme a todo lo que en él está escrito; porque entonces harás prosperar tu camino, y todo te saldrá bien.

9 Mira que te mando que te esfuerces y seas valiente; no temas ni desmayes, porque Jehová tu Dios estará contigo en dondequiera que vayas.

Esta orden que Dios le dio a Josué sigue vigente para nosotros; debemos oír la Palabra, guardarla y hacerla, solo así la haremos una realidad en nuestra vida y producirá el fruto deseado.

Lo quinto que debemos entender es que la Palabra trae las cosas de Dios al mundo natural.

Hebreos 11:3

3 Por la fe entendemos haber sido constituido el universo por la palabra de Dios, de modo que lo que se ve fue hecho de lo que no se veía.

Hebreos 11:3 (Biblia del Pueblo de Dios)

3 Por la fe, comprendemos que la Palabra de Dios formó el mundo, de manera que lo visible proviene de lo invisible.

Hebreos 11:3 (Biblia Castilian 2003)

3 Por la fe sabemos que los mundos y los tiempos fueron organizados por la palabra de Dios, de suerte que de lo invisible surgiera lo visible.

Hebreos 11:3 (The Message)

3 Por la fe podemos ver que el mundo fue llamado a existencia por la palabra de Dios, lo que vemos fue creado por lo que no vemos.

Este verso que vemos es bien claro, el mundo y todo lo que conocemos fue formado por la Palabra de Dios, creando las cosas que se ven de las que no se veían.

Dios llamó al mundo a la existencia con sus palabras tal como vemos en Génesis.

Génesis 1:1-3

1 En el principio creó Dios los cielos y la tierra.

2 Y la tierra estaba desordenada y vacía, y las tinieblas estaban sobre la faz del abismo, y el Espíritu de Dios se movía sobre la faz de las aguas.

3 Y dijo Dios: Sea la luz; y fue la luz.

Si vemos todo el capítulo 1 de Génesis veremos que Dios habló 7 veces para hacer su creación y cada vez que Él habló fue formado algo.

Su Palabra tiene poder creador.

Lo sexto que debemos entender es que la Palabra de Dios tiene poder para reproducirse en nosotros.

La parábola del sembrador es una muestra clara de cómo la Palabra de Dios puede llegar a reproducirse en nosotros.

Lucas 8:11

11 Esta es, pues, la parábola: La semilla es la palabra de Dios.

Mateo 13:19

19 Cuando alguno oye la palabra del reino y no la entiende, viene el malo, y arrebata lo que fue sembrado en su corazón.

Veamos ahora como es que esa semilla de la Palabra crece en nuestro corazón.

Marcos 4:26-29

26 Decía además: Así es el reino de Dios, como cuando un hombre echa semilla en la tierra;

27 y duerme y se levanta, de noche y de día, y la semilla brota y crece sin que él sepa cómo.

28 Porque de suyo lleva fruto la tierra, primero hierba, luego espiga, después grano lleno en la espiga;

29 y cuando el fruto está maduro, en seguida se mete la hoz, porque la siega ha llegado.

La Palabra tiene poder para reproducirse en nosotros y dar fruto.

Le sétimo que debemos entender es que para que la Palabra se vuelva real en nosotros debemos vivirla.

Nosotros no podemos llegar a vivirla si es que no la conocemos.

Juan 8:31-32

31 Dijo entonces Jesús a los judíos que habían creído en él: Si vosotros permaneciereis en mi palabra, seréis verdaderamente mis discípulos;

32 y conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os hará libres.

Para poder ser verdaderos discípulos de Jesús debemos conocer y permanecer en Su Palabra.

Santiago 1:21-25

21 Por lo cual, desechando toda inmundicia y abundancia de malicia, recibid con mansedumbre la palabra implantada, la cual puede salvar vuestras almas.

22 Pero sed hacedores de la palabra, y no tan solamente oidores, engañándoos a vosotros mismos.

23 Porque si alguno es oidor de la palabra pero no hacedor de ella, éste es semejante al hombre que considera en un espejo su rostro natural.

24 Porque él se considera a sí mismo, y se va, y luego olvida cómo era.

25 Mas el que mira atentamente en la perfecta ley, la de la libertad, y persevera en ella, no siendo oidor olvidadizo, sino hacedor de la obra, éste será bienaventurado en lo que hace.

Este pasaje es bien claro; no solo debemos recibir la Palabra sino que debemos convertirnos en hacedores de ella; debemos vivirla para que se vuelva una realidad en nosotros.

Josué 1:7-9

7 Solamente esfuérzate y sé muy valiente, para cuidar de hacer conforme a toda la ley que mi siervo Moisés te mandó; no te apartes de ella ni a diestra ni a siniestra, para que seas prosperado en todas las cosas que emprendas.

8 Nunca se apartará de tu boca este libro de la ley, sino que de día y de noche meditarás en él, para que guardes y hagas conforme a todo lo que en él está escrito; porque entonces harás prosperar tu camino, y todo te saldrá bien.

9 Mira que te mando que te esfuerces y seas valiente; no temas ni desmayes, porque Jehová tu Dios estará contigo en dondequiera que vayas.

Esta orden que Dios le dio a Josué sigue vigente para nosotros; debemos oír la Palabra, guardarla y hacerla, solo así la haremos una realidad en nuestra vida y producirá el fruto deseado.

At the advice of our doctor, we have decided to begin weaning Rhema from the current drug. Once weaned, she will start a new anti-epileptic medication called Keppra. In August, we will do another overnight hospital stay in which a 24-hour EEG will be performed to determine how well the Keppra is working. I had really hoped to avoid switching her from drug to drug. Hopefully, the Keppra will work for her.

It is hard to know what’s really driving the train here. Is it the autism that makes it so difficult for her to speak and process language or is it the seizure activity? Or both?

One thing I am confident of and that is, simply, God made her. He created her brain in all its glory and complexity, He formed her mouth and tongue. No matter how many doctors we see, or treatments and therapies we try, we know for certain that if our little one speaks it will be because of God and God alone.

I love a Bible passage where God is revealed to Moses in the Burning Bush. The Lord tells Moses that he will be the one to lead the people of Israel out of their captivity in Egypt. Moses is full of questions and objections, but can you blame the guy? He was just supposed to roll up into Pharaoh’s house and tell him that God said to let the Israelites - the ones who had provided hundreds of years of slave labor - just pack up and leave? This was no small task.

In Exodus 4:10-12:
Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent... I am slow of speech and tongue." The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

Moses was literally saying, You’ve got the wrong guy. I am not a man of words. (Some believe that Moses did in fact have a speech impediment – Isn’t it just like God to choose someone like that to demonstrate His power?). God’s response is simple: I made your mouth. Don’t you think that if I made the mouth and created the gift of speech, I can give you the ability to speak? God gives those gifts, He can take away those gifts and restore them again – ultimately His purposes will be accomplished. In another translation, God literally says to Moses, I will be with your mouth and teach you what you will say.

Wow, there’s such a peace in that. And it doesn’t just have to apply to my family and our struggle with autism and epilepsy. For those of us who know the Truth of Christ, we must share it and live it. But we also have the gift of speech, and we must speak it. That is, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). If you’re the least bit fearful like Moses, let God be with your mouth.

By the way, slow-of-speech Moses later becomes God’s eloquent messenger, commanding plagues to come, and plagues to cease, and waters to part. In Acts 7:22, Moses is not remembered as a man of few words, but instead as “mighty in words and in deeds”.

**I have met so many friends and “encouragers” since I joined the blogosphere. Thank you for letting us share our lives with you, and thank you for rejoicing with us for every little “utterance”, every little victory.

Fue el fundador de la iglesia de Lakewood, hoy pastoreada por su hijo Joel Osteen.

Veamos su prédica: "Como estar firme en Dios".

PRIMERA PARTE

SEGUNDA PARTE

TERCERA PART

En este video podemos ver como una niña crece varios centímetros en presencia de mucha gente en una reunión del Evangelista Aaron Barrientos.

Estos milagros también están disponibles para ti el día de hoy.

Juan 17:17

17 Santifícalos en tu verdad; tu palabra es verdad.

El logos de Dios es la verdad de Dios.

Números 23:19

19 Dios no es hombre, para que mienta, Ni hijo de hombre para que se arrepienta. El dijo, ¿y no hará? Habló, ¿y no lo ejecutará?

Si Dios dijo algo en Su Palabra, es un hecho que va ha suceder.

Lo cuarto que debemos entender es que la Palabra de Dios no cambia.

En Mateo 24:35, Marcos 13:31 y Lucas 21:33 dicen lo mismo:

Mateo 24:35

35 El cielo y la tierra pasarán, pero mis palabras no pasarán.

El logos de Dios nunca cambia.

Santiago 1:16-17

16 Amados hermanos míos, no erréis.

17 Toda buena dádiva y todo don perfecto desciende de lo alto, del Padre de las luces, en el cual no hay mudanza, ni sombra de variación.

Dios no cambia, ni varía ni se muda, Él siempre es el mismo.

Hebreos 13:8

8 Jesucristo es el mismo ayer, y hoy, y por los siglos.

Jesucristo, la Palabra viva, no ha cambiado, por tanto la Palabra de Dios sigue vigente hoy.

Lo quinto que debemos entender es que la Palabra trae las cosas de Dios al mundo natural.

Hebreos 11:3

3 Por la fe entendemos haber sido constituido el universo por la palabra de Dios, de modo que lo que se ve fue hecho de lo que no se veía.

Hebreos 11:3 (Biblia del Pueblo de Dios)

3 Por la fe, comprendemos que la Palabra de Dios formó el mundo, de manera que lo visible proviene de lo invisible.

Hebreos 11:3 (Biblia Castilian 2003)

3 Por la fe sabemos que los mundos y los tiempos fueron organizados por la palabra de Dios, de suerte que de lo invisible surgiera lo visible.

Hebreos 11:3 (The Message)

3 Por la fe podemos ver que el mundo fue llamado a existencia por la palabra de Dios, lo que vemos fue creado por lo que no vemos.

Este verso que vemos es bien claro, el mundo y todo lo que conocemos fue formado por la Palabra de Dios, creando las cosas que se ven de las que no se veían.

Dios llamó al mundo a la existencia con sus palabras tal como vemos en Génesis.

Génesis 1:1-3

1 En el principio creó Dios los cielos y la tierra.

2 Y la tierra estaba desordenada y vacía, y las tinieblas estaban sobre la faz del abismo, y el Espíritu de Dios se movía sobre la faz de las aguas.

3 Y dijo Dios: Sea la luz; y fue la luz.

Si vemos todo el capítulo 1 de Génesis veremos que Dios habló 7 veces para hacer su creación y cada vez que Él habló fue formado algo.

Su Palabra tiene poder creador.

Rhema is a picky, faddy eater (understatement of the year).

She has 3 food lists: Obsession, Toleration and Detestation.
1) Obsession: I’m obsessed with you, ______ (fill in the blank food). I will eat you morning, noon, night and snack time.
2) Toleration: I tolerate you, ______ (fill in the blank food), if the moon and stars are all aligned.
3) Detestation: I despise you, ______ (fill in the blank food). Do not dare come near me. Any green food or vegetable is on this list.

Foods on her list can, without warning, move from the Obsession list to the Toleration list and back again. There are never more than four or five food items on either the Obsession or Toleration List at any one time. Occasionally foods may drop suddenly from the Obsession list all the way down to the Detestation list, never to rise again.

Currently, gluten-free fries are on Rhema’s Toleration List.

So I eagerly snatched up all the bags of Alphabet fries (they’re actually called “Alphatots”), because any one who has a child with feeding issues knows that when there is something your child will eat, you must stock up on it. You must never run out.

This is great, I thought. Here is a GFCF food she can eat, and it can even be a learning tool! Maybe I’ll spell her name out on her plate tonight. Maybe I can give her the letter A, wait and see if I can get her to ask for B, then C, then D! Or maybe we can sing the ABC’s before we eat. In the future, maybe I’ll only give her vowels and then later work on consonants. My mind was racing with the possibilities. I could hardly wait.

For dinner that night, I set her plate before her with a random assortment of letters. Hope also got a plate of alphabet fries. Hope happily shouted, “ABC’s!” and consumed her fries within minutes.

Rhema refused to touch hers.

I was confused. It’s new to her, I thought. She just needs a little time, a little coaxing.

“Rhema, look! It’s the letter W! Yummm. Taste it. It’s so good.”

No response. I picked up one of her fries and wagged it in front of her. “Eat, Rhema!”

Then she started the squirmy dance in her chair. Then the escalating whines of protest. I could suddenly hear the alarm signals going off.

Meltdown Pending.

“O.K., O.K., Rhema.” Sigh. I’m backing off now. Let’s give you something to eat from the Obsession List.

I looked at my daughter, waiting for her to look at me. When she did, I suddenly understood. If she could talk, she would have said,

“Silly woman. We can say the alphabet. We can sing the alphabet. We can even do the alphabet puzzle. But we never, ever eat the alphabet.”

"At about nine months an infant develops an intersubjective sense of self. If the infant could speak he or she might say 'I see that my mother sees me as lovable, so I see myself that way too.'"

'Sense of self' is kind of a buzz phrase in our time. Books, magazines, seminars, wellness clubs, therapeutic massage… many are dedicated to helping people find their sense of self. A sense of self is a necessary step in the developmental process, particularly social development, because a child’s understanding of ‘self’ comes from an experience with ‘other’. Developing a sense of self requires that one recognizes herself as distinct from others. Simply put, possessing a sense of self means knowing who I am, what motivates me, what makes me me.

The current research suggests that my daughter’s autism leaves her with a poorly defined perception of ‘self’. They say her ability for self-recognition is impaired, her identity fragmented. While I appreciate the research, a part of me wants to reject that notion with every fiber of my being.

But the question for me remains: how do I help my nonverbal, autistic child - who at times seems so hyperactive and disconnected – how do I teach her to “know” herself and to relate herself to the world. This is a daunting challenge and further reason for me to be on my knees before God.

Over the years, I have come to know that my own sense of self is derived from my beliefs in God and His Word. My mother used to say to us, “Remember who you are and Whose you are.” In navigating the world, it has always helped me to know that I am God’s daughter and my mother’s child.

My dear friend and college roommate, Chandra, went through the entire Bible searching for what God says about our identity. The result of her study is a wonderful Scriptural reference she entitled “What God Says About Me” in which she focuses on our Origin, Purpose, Lineage, Family, Nature, New Self, Freedom, Relationship with God, Role as a Woman, Relationship with the World, Eternal Life, and Character and Gifts. (If anyone is interested, I will gladly send you a copy. I refer to it often.) *Edit: Click here for a copy of "What God Says About Me".

In addition to the unique and God-given gifts, abilities, and personalities that my children will discover as they grow, I pray to teach them some of the following things about themselves:

• I am created in God’s image and blessed by God (Gen. 1:27, Gen. 5:1-2)

• God’s hands formed me and made me, and I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 119:73, Ps. 139:13,14)

• The Lord has a purpose for me and He will fulfill it (Ps. 138:8 )

• God loves me so much that He calls me His child (1 Jn. 3:1-2) and He sent His Son to die for me so that I could live with Him forever (Jn. 3:16)

• When I am weak, then I am strong. Christ’s power rests on me in my weaknes, and His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9,10)

• I belong to God. I am precious and honored in His sight. God loves me and I am created for His glory (Isa. 43:1,4,7)

• I am fiercely valued and forever loved by my family

These are the things I want my girls to know about themselves when I cannot be with them. When that Truth is challenged. When they are teased on the playground for being different. When they are repeatedly underestimated. When they fail and when they succeed.

For Rhema, the last time she was tested she had the receptive language of a 12 month old. No matter. We have a renewed commitment to read the Word of God into her ears. I’m trusting that the “Rhema Word” will come to her and bring understanding and teach her about her ‘self’.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out^[a] the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

(v17) - being poured out like a drink offering means to loose your life, letting God take control. Offering your life to him and by faith, he will give you every thing the you need. Amen!

Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, so we must shine—
You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Estos milagros sucedieron durante un seminario de sanidad en 1974.

Conference hosts Ken and Lynette Hagin welcome speakers: Mark Hankins, Darrell Huffman, Joseph Ripley, Craig Hagin, Scott Webb, Charles Cowan, Randy Grier, and Reggie Scarborough! Campmeeting 2008 airs LIVE on iWorshipHere.com from the RHEMA Bible Church/RHEMA USA campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma July 20-26.

Service times are Sunday at 10am and 7:30pm CST.

Monday through Saturday join us LIVE at 10am, 2:30pm, and 7:30pm CST.

Tune in for inspiring worship, solid teaching, and the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit!

Between LIVE services be sure to check back for regular repeats of services from the day before.

For more info on guest speakers or RHEMA, visit www.rhema.org

You won't want to miss a single session!