31 Thursday Oct 2013
Posted in Reflection
Through Christ we can thrive under pressure. When we realize our weakness, we look to Christ for our strength. I hope this video encourages you and helps you see how God’s strength can give us everything we need in our weakness.
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30 Wednesday Oct 2013
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
Posted by Dino Evangelista | Filed under Reflection
29 Tuesday Oct 2013
Posted in Reflection
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Compassion, Love, Peace, Trust
Three years ago this past Saturday, my dad passed away from a relatively short battle with cancer. While both of my parents have always meant a lot to me, I always credit my dad for making me the man that I am today. The memory of his life is always one of respected and honor. But the memory of his last year with us is painful. To watch this man suffer and experience the tremendous amounts of pain he endured burns sadness in my heart.
The day before the anniversary of his death, I came across a post on Facebook with the following article. It painted, in pictures, the journey one man took watching his wife succumb to breast cancer. In the three years since my dad’s death, I have never found a closer representation (though far from exact) of what we went through watching my dad suffer. The author warns of the last three pictures, not because of anything graphic, but because he said “the last 3 photos destroyed me”. It destroyed me too.
This Guy’s Wife Got Cancer, So He Did Something Unforgettable. The Last 3 Photos Destroyed Me.
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
28 Monday Oct 2013
Posted in Daily Reading
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Again, not too much from today’s reading other than this thought… God does not find pleasure in punishment. God repeatedly allowed the Israelites the opportunity to turn from their wicked ways, but they continued to sin until God finally had enough. For us, this means that God wants to bless us. He wants to show nothing but loving kindness. But when we continue in sin there comes a time when God removes His hand of protection and allows the consequences of our sin to take over. It is up to us to make sure we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obey His calling for us because the consequences of sin is never pleasant.
27 Sunday Oct 2013
Posted in Daily Reading
I do not have much to say about today’s reading. I do have a thought from last night’s dinner conversation with friends… Judgement from God comes as much from what we do as what we don’t do. Obedience comes from following God (not necessary the rules) and being willing to deal with the consequences of where He leads us. If you were asked to renounce your faith or be imprisoned, would you be obedient or would you avoid prison? My initial answer is simple, but what if prison meant physical and emotional torture? Obedience requires much more than rule following, it requires submission to the plan God has before us and being willing to accept an outcome which may not be for our personal best interest. We must accept where God leads us and realize the impact His plan will have in the light of eternity.
26 Saturday Oct 2013
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Even when we are in the middle of trials in our lives, God is our sanctuary. In Ezekiel 11:16 it says, “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’” No matter how dark it seems, God is with us and looks to be the place we can go to find comfort. I would imagine people who are imprisoned for their faith finding God to be their sanctuary when they face torture and confinement. I too often find myself waiting too long to find comfort from God. He wants to be there for me throughout and I need to trust in Him immediately instead of waiting. God is my comforter and in Him is where my trust should be.
25 Friday Oct 2013
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The people of Judah trusted in their abilities, prosperity and possessions instead of God. Because of this, God allowed them to be destroyed on the basis of their trust. Ezekiel 7:8 says, I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. When we trust in our careers, family, friends, the economy, government or military for our security, we put God as a backup. We are to put God first and foremost as our protector and guide in all we do.
24 Thursday Oct 2013
Posted in Daily Reading
Today we begin the book of Ezekiel who was a younger contemporary of Jeremiah. While Jeremiah ministered to the people while they were still in Judah, Ezekiel prophesied to the people who were already exiled to Babylon. He was taken there in 597 B.C. and the book was written approximately 571 B.C. The purpose of the book was to once again announce judgement on Israel and other nations. The book also takes part in announcing salvation to God’s people. Like God’s people back in Ezekiel’s day, we are never without explanation and direction. We just need to choose to follow God’s instruction.
23 Wednesday Oct 2013
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Trust is a difficult thing. It requires us to humble ourselves into allowing someone else to care for us. The same applies to trusting in God with all our needs. When we attempt to do it all on our own it creates anxiety and stress in our lives. 1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. When we carry all the stresses and worries by ourselves, we show we do not fully trust God with our lives. Sometimes we think the struggles cause by our own sin and foolishness are not concerns of God. But when we turn our trust over to God, He will even bear the burden of carrying the burden from that anxiety as well.
22 Tuesday Oct 2013
Posted in Daily Reading
Today we begin the letters of the Apostle Peter starting with the book of 1 Peter. The letters were written to encourage Christians who were beginning to suffer for their faith. One of the ways Peter encouraged believers was to remind them of the everlasting power of salvation through Jesus Christ. He reminded them, no matter what happened to them on earth, their salvation was forever. In 1 Peter 1:24, Peter quotes a verse from Isaiah 40:6-8 reminding them that the thing of this world will fade but God and His ways are permanent, For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever. Let this be a reminder to us; while our sadness, pain, and suffering may feel overwhelming at times, God’s grace, mercy, and peace are always available to us.
Daily Devotion 