Motives

This morning I heard a song by Chris Sligh (Empty Me).

Through the lyrics one thing that stood out was “empty me so that I can be filled with YOU”. More of Him and less of me:

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

John 3:30 - He must increase, but I [must] decrease.

Then the LORD brought to mind something I had read, sometime ago, in Chuck Swindoll’s book, "Improving Your Serve":

“WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVE?”
Why are you planning this?
What’s the reason behind your doing that?
Why did you say yes (or no)?
What is the motive for writing that letter?
Why are you excited over this opportunity?
What causes you to bring up that subject?
Why did you mention his/her name?
What’s your motive, Leticia?

Wow! Truly lots to pray and meditate on.

Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Then I remember something my nephew told me (I don’t remember who he was quoting): Maintain integrity in the message (The Word); Purity in the motives (no flattery, no greed, no self-glory, never work to be appreciated); Credibility of service (we are being watched by the sheep and the wolves).

Motives check everyone. I am asking the LORD for purity…with that some things will burn and some will stand. May it ALL be done for the glory of My Heavenly Father and ONLY for His glory.

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Thinking again...

Sometimes you run into some pictures that simply leave you speechless. You simply sit there and reminisce. Pictured here (from left to right) is Meño, my older brother, My Dad, Mom, and Guille, my older sister.

Dad's face says it all...he loved being with his children. Dad and Sis are gone now...

God is my comfort and assurance. One day it will all make sense.

God's Fierece Love for Me

From Elyse M. Fitzpatrick’s book Comforts from the Cross:

Day 16 – SEE HIM!
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

…the story of redemption is, in its purest form, a love story, but it’s a love story unlike anything you could ever imagine. It’s the story of God’s love for you, but this love isn’t just a sweet sentiment inscribed on a greeting card destined for next week’s garbage bin. It’s deeper and richer, and honestly a bit frightening. It’s love that is
willing to afflict itself and its beloved for a greater good.

…Fierce love pours from the tip of the pen of John…let me encourage you to push past detached facts, which can anesthetize the soul, to hear this breathtaking message. Picture him jumping up and down, waving his arms, seeking to awaken us from our stupor, while we muse, “Oh yes, God’s love…la la la…I’m his child. Isn’t that nice,” and then sink back into our comfy recliner, revisiting fantasies of how pleasant our lives would be if Santa really did visit us this year. “No, no! You’re missing it!” he would be yelling. “This love is the most important thing about you; it changes and will change everything!”

…Shake off your boredom and apathy. God’s love for you is fierce, self-afflicting, white-hot, life-transforming. The goal of this love is that you may be called God’s
daughter, God’s son. All this pain and grief is bent on one primary goal: your adoption and his eventual praise. Your relationship with the Creator of all there is has been secured in the blood and tears of love’s delight…

This whole concept of God’s fierce love for me struck me and paralyzed me. It made me push past the facts, past the boredom…what manner of love is this? Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, left all perfection and glory to come down and dwell amongst us and pay a price I could not ever pay – all for LOVE! This should not be boring. This should not be yesterday’s news. We should not read this as, “o yeah, I read this already – check. What will my reading be for tomorrow?” For GOD SO LOVED…that HE GAVE…

Thinking of My Brothers

Humberto
Oscar

Charly

I've been thinking allot about my brothers. I heard this song by Leeland called Tears of the Saints and my heart just broke for them. I tried to put the video, but had trouble so I just put the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg1jBuInMqA

Let us keep watching and praying. Let us not give up.